INTV, 27 Sep 2013 – Friday prayers and widespread demonstrations held by the uprising Iraqi people were staged in 13 different areas in Baghdad and in the provinces of al-Anbar, Salahaddin, Neinawa, Kirkuk and Diyala.
The speakers in these Friday prayer gatherings and demonstrations condemned Maliki’s recent threats against the demonstrators.
Sheikh Ahmed Adwan al-Doleimi, speaker of the Ramadi Friday prayer gathering, condemned Iran’s criminal meddling in Iraq. “Maliki is a pond at Iran’s disposal and everyone knows this is Iran that is governing Iraq.”
According to reports aired by Baghdad TV, millions of people in the Ramadi demonstration rallied on the International Highway north of the city, and also east of the city of Fallujah, after the Friday prayers and held demonstrations calling for the implementation of their legitimate demands. Friday also marked the 279th day of their continuing sit-in. Sheikh al-Doleimi went on to condemn Maliki’s remarks against the protesters and emphasized they must stand against Maliki’s remarks with perseverance in the protest camps.
Friday’s rallies in Iraq were held despite the fact that the demonstrators faced a wave of repressive measures and terror attacks.
According to Baghdad TV a bombing rocked the Towhid Grand Mosque in Baghdad’s al-Dora district and targeted the worshipers while they were exiting the building.
Sumraiya TV reported two blasts that targeted two mosques in Baghdad left a total of 7 worshipers dead and 28 others injured. Sumariya TV reported citing a security source, “An IED explosion near the Towhid mosque in the al-Dora district located in southern Baghdad took place while worshippers were exiting the building, resulting in five deaths and 12 others injured. This source said another IED placed near the Shenshel Mosque in the Hay al-Jihad district in west Baghdad exploded also when worshipers were leaving the facility, leaving two people killed and ten others injured.
According to al-Rafedein TV Maliki’s forces raided the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad’s al-A’zamiya district and tore down the demonstrators’ placards. Maliki’s forces also arrested two leading sheikhs at the end of the Friday prayers. According to Baghdad TV Iraq’s leading clergy association called for the immediate release of these two prominent sheikhs, especially Sheikh Abdol-Sattar Abdol-Jabbar, a member of the country’s juratory association and prominent religious figure in Iraq.