...
firebrandsare noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments...
holy man
Moqtada Tateral-Sadr
... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah...
called on Friday for the government to resign and for snap elections as deadly protests intensified in the capital Baghdad and across the country.
A statement signed by the former Shia militia leader said that to avoid further violence which has claimed at least 44 lives since protests began on Tuesday the "government should resign and early elections should be held under UN supervision."
Earlier on Friday, al-Sadr had in a statement instructed allied politicians to suspend participation in all parliament activities until the government introduces a program acceptable to the people.
The influential Shia holy man’s Sairoon political bloc won the largest single bloc of seats in last year’s election with 54 in the 329-seat parliament.
Sadr’s position came after Iraq’s top Shia holy man, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, earlier on Friday sharply criticized the Iraqi government in the wake of deadly violence sweeping the country, urging both politicians and protesters to back down "before it is too late."
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi had called on politicians to support him to reshuffle cabinet posts and urged calm in a televised speech on state TV.
The Prime Minister said the protesters' "legitimate demands" had been heard and they should go home, adding that the security measures used against the demonstrations were like "bitter medicine" that needs to be swallowed.
Meanwhile,
...back at the revival hall, the congregants were being herded into the paddy wagon...
Iraqi security forces opened fire on dozens of protesters gathering in Baghdad for a fourth day of demonstrations against corruption, unemployment, and poor public services.
Related:
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Moqtada al-Sadr: 2019-09-03 Sadrist militias kill eight Islamic State militants in central Iraq
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Moqtada al-Sadr: 2019-06-04 Baghdad Green Zone to open 24 hours a day: Iraqi PM
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Sairoon: 2018-09-14 Rival Iraqi factions make coalition deal and end Al-Abadi’s prime minister hopes
Sairoon: 2018-10-05 Iraq: Sadr bloc won’t take part in new cabinet
Sairoon: 2018-09-16 Iraqi parliament elects new speaker, breaking political deadlock
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