Ms. Iraqi activist killed in Basra as gunmen against Protestants

A female political activist has been shot dead in the Iraqi city of Basra, the third such attack in a week.

Riham Yaqoob, a doctor who is leading local protest against anti-government, was killed on Wednesday by unidentified assailants.

By the assassination on Friday of another activist, Tahseen Osama, Protestants took to the streets to demand that the authorities discover those responsible.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi dismissed the chief of police and other security officials of Basra in response.

After the assassination of Dr. Yaqoob, he promised to “do whatever it takes for the security forces to carry out their duties”.

“Complicity with the killers and submission to their threats is rejected and we will do everything necessary for the Ministry of Homeland Security and security agencies to carry out the task of protecting the security of society from the threats of foreigners,” he added. .

Mr. Kadhimi – a former intelligence chief – took office in May, five months after his predecessor resigned in response to mass protests in the capital, Baghdad, Basra and other southern cities.

Until the Covid-19 pandemic reached Iraq, thousands of people regularly took to the streets to express their anger over endemic corruption, high unemployment, heavy public services and foreign interference.

Their demands included destroying Iraq’s political system, assigning positions to political parties based on ethnic and sectarian identities, encouraging patronage and corruption.

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More than 500 protesters were shot dead by security forces and gunmen suspected of referring to militias during the riots. Thousands more were injured.

Mr. Kadhimi has vowed to hold those responsible accountable for the murder and offered the families of the dead Protestants $ 8,380 (£ 6,340) in compensation.

He also set next June as the date for early parliamentary elections.