Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government said today that it would be considering the nearly 560 demonstrators and security personnel killed during mass protests as “martyrs” and that their families would be eligible to receive 10 million dinars ($8,380) in compensation.
The widespread protests, which erupted in October and called for an end to growing Iranian influence, government corruption and a lack of basic services, forced the resignation of then-Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. Human rights groups accused security forces of using violent tactics to suppress the unrest, including firing live ammunition at peaceful protesters.
