The Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party issued the following statement on 4th September 2018:
The bloody events in Basra have escalated gravely during the last few hours. The latest reports spoke of the fall of more martyrs and dozens of people wounded, the storming of the building of the provincial government and of a total curfew in the province.
The excessive and flagrant violence of the security forces in dealing with the masses demanding their basic legitimate rights is mainly responsible for the situation developing to what it is now. This is what we, along with many other parties, personalities and sincere citizens, have already condemned and warned against, and demanded that the authorities put an end to it. We also stressed, and continue to emphasize, on maintaining the peaceful character of the demonstrations and popular protests.
The overwhelming popular anger which has erupted today is not only due to ignoring the legitimate demands and the slow handling of the burning problems that have turned the lives of millions of people into unbearable daily suffering. It is also caused by the repression used by the security forces against peaceful demonstrators who are exercising their constitutional right to demand their basic human rights which are essential for dignified life.
While expressing our strongest condemnation of this irresponsible and inhumane treatment of the masses of demonstrators in Basra by the security forces, we call on the local and federal governments to act immediately to put an end to these measures that could lead to developments with alarming consequences in these difficult hours for the citizens of Basra and their dear city and province. We also call on them to act earnestly and urgently to resolve the woes caused by poor services that the people of Basra are suffering from, the first of which is the problem of drinking water.
Bloody violence and repression in Basra must stop immediately.
Those responsible for the repression and the lethal shooting of peaceful demonstrators must be held accountable without delay and receive the punishment they deserve.
Glory to the martyrs of the protest movement and speedy recovery for the wounded and injured.