Testimony of Mousa Rahmatallah, 28, a participant in the demonstrations in Baghdad:
Kareem Botane conducted the interview, MECRA edited it for clarity
The protesters are Iraqi young men from all over Iraq. It’s call of 1st of October movement. It is based on the following things: Firstly, it is emphasing the rights and duties of each individual as a citizen. The former government didn’t implement and fulfill their promises.
Now, our demand is to dissolve parliament and hold a new election after 60 days in accordance with article 94 of the Iraqi Constitution.
We are in another phase which is Iraqi sovereignty and the consequences of that. We have many demonstrators here who have bachelors and advanced degrees. We have a lot of graduates and they are without jobs. Based on our constitution it says the government should provide and create opportunity, jobs and wealth to citizens. Also article 30 says people should be provided with residency and an appropriate place to live in. Most of the people here with us they don’t have a place – some of them built houses without permits and the government came and destroyed them…
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