In recent weeks, anti-government demonstrations in cities across Iraq have been growing, as hundreds of thousands gather to voice their frustration and anger over corruption, alleged Iranian interference, high unemployment, poor government services, and years of economic stagnation. More than 250 people have reportedly been killed in clashes with Iraqi security forces while taking part in some of the largest demonstrations since 2003. Protesters are demanding a complete overhaul of the government, including the ouster of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. Pledges have been made by authorities to hold early elections, and to address some of the concerns of the demonstrators, but the protests show no signs of slowing.
A Month of Anti-government Protests in Iraq
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Read moreA demonstrator carries an Iraqi flag during ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 4, 2019. #
Thaier Al-Sudani / Reuters -
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Read moreAn aerial view shows Iraqi protesters gathering at Baghdad's Tahrir Square near al-Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the high-security Green Zone across the Tigris River, during ongoing anti-government demonstrations in the Iraqi capital on November 2, 2019. #
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Read moreA demonstrator throws back a tear-gas canister during a protest in Baghdad on October 28, 2019. #
Thaier Al-Sudani / Reuters -
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Read moreAn Iraqi demonstrator takes part in ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad on November 1, 2019. #
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Read moreAnti-government protesters pull at barriers to open the bridge leading to the Green Zone during a demonstration in central Baghdad on October 25, 2019. #
Hadi Mizban / AP -
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Read moreIraqi security forces fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters during a demonstration in Baghdad on October 25, 2019. #
Hadi Mizban / AP -
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Read moreAnti-government protesters gather in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad on October 31, 2019. #
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Read moreAnti-government protesters set fires while security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas near the state-run TV station in Baghdad on November 4, 2019. #
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Read moreThe Diwaniya Provincial Council Building burns after being torched by demonstrators during a protest in Diwaniya, Iraq, on October 25, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester wears tear-gas canisters on his fingers and makes the victory sign during anti-government protests in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, late on October 28, 2019. #
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Read moreAnti-government protesters stand on barriers set up by Iraqi security forces to close a bridge leading to the Green Zone government areas during ongoing protests in Baghdad on November 4, 2019. #
Hadi Mizban / AP -
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Read moreAn Iraqi protester poses in front of a mural in Baghdad's Tahrir Square during anti-government demonstrations on November 2, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi students pose for selfies with a member of the security forces during ongoing anti-government protests in the central city of Diwaniyah on October 31, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi women chant slogans and wave national flags as they take part in a protest in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on November 4, 2019. #
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Read moreA traffic light is seen as demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest in Baghdad on October 29, 2019. #
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Read moreVolunteers prepare free food for anti-government protesters during ongoing demonstrations in Baghdad on November 2, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester, wearing a gas mask to avoid tear gas, poses for a picture during ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Baghdad on October 31, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi protesters gather on al-Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the high-security Green Zone, during anti-government demonstrations in Baghdad on October 31, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi protesters carry a comrade who fainted due to tear gas used by security forces to disperse the crowds in central Baghdad on October 25, 2019. #
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Read moreAn Iraqi paramedic rides a tuk-tuk amid clashes with security forces at al-Sinek bridge during anti-government demonstrations in Baghdad on November 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters gather to commemorate the people who lost their lives during anti-government demonstrations demanding economic reforms and an overhaul of the political system, at Tahrir Square in Baghdad on November 3, 2019. #
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Read moreAn Iraqi demonstrator holds a candle during a procession in Baghdad on November 4, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi protesters wave national flags as they gather during a demonstration outside the local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra on October 29, 2019. #
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Read moreAn Iraqi orchestra performs to support protesters in Basra on November 2, 2019. #
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Read moreA woman wearing a wedding dress holds a placard with an Arabic sentence reading "The bride of the demonstrations, her dowry is the change" takes part in the ongoing protests in Basra, Iraq, on November 3, 2019. #
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Read moreDemonstrators and tuk-tuk drivers take part in anti-government protests in Baghdad on October 30, 2019. #
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Read moreIraqi protesters try to remove the security-force barricades on al-Sarafiya bridge and enter the road to the high-security Green Zone, where key government offices and foreign embassies are based, during ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Tahrir Square on October 30, 2019. #
Murtadha Sudani / Anadolu Agency via Getty / Anadolu Agency -
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Read moreIraqi architects wear their white helmets as they hold a candlelight vigil for victims killed during anti-government protests in the southern city of Basra on November 1, 2019. #
Hussein Faleh / AFP / Getty -
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