A group of Iraqi men injured in nationwide protests that began in 2019 have gone to Germany for medical treatment.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi met members of the group, some of whom were in wheelchairs and unable to walk, before they left from Baghdad International Airport on Friday.
The government has also been involved in organising for other injured protesters to receive treatment in India and Turkey.
“During the meeting Mr Al Kadhimi assured the men that the government had fulfilled its promise and fulfilled their request for treatment outside Iraq,” the prime minister's office said.
The men heading to Germany for treatment were injured when thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in Baghdad and southern Iraq in October 2019, to protest against corruption, unemployment, poor living standards and foreign interference.
The mostly young protesters accused the political establishment of rampant corruption and demanded an end to a political system divided along sectarian and ethnic lines.
Protesters, who were mostly unarmed, were confronted by violent, armed assailants and hundreds of people were killed. Others were abducted by masked men.
The demonstrations forced Adel Abdul Mahdi to resign as prime minister in late 2019.
His successor Mr Al Kadhimi, who took office in May 2020, vowed to bring the killers to justice and for an “impartial and independent” investigation into the killing and abduction of protesters.
However, the government has failed to identify perpetrators.
Mr Al Kadhimi praised the men for their sacrifices in pushing for reforms, before their flight left for Germany.
The hashtag “October's injured” was trending on Twitter with pictures of the men in Baghdad airport.
Noor Nafea Ali, a human rights activist, said no action would be equivalent to the sacrifices the protesters had made for Iraq.
“Thank you to those who played an important role in supporting you and facilitating the travel process for the protesters to receive treatment outside the country,” Ms Ali said on Twitter.
“This was the result of a strong campaign” that urged the government to treat those badly wounded, she said.
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
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- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
