Wave of Sunni demonstrations sweeps Iraq
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 December 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Wave of Sunni demonstrations sweeps Iraq, 28 December 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50ed344bc.html [accessed 20 June 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 28, 2012
Iraqi protesters pray during a demonstration in Ramadi, capital of the western region of Anbar, on December 28.
Thousands of Iraqi Sunnis are protesting in several cities against the alleged marginalization of Sunnis by the Shi'ite majority.
Several thousand demonstrators on December 28 blocked the highway into Jordan and Syria.
In Fallujah, demonstrators waved Saddam Hussein-era flags and banners of the primarily Sunni opposition in Syria.
In Mosul, about 3,000 demonstrators called for the release of Sunni prisoners and chanted against the "regime" of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
There were also demonstrations in Tikrit and Samarra.
The protests come at a time of heightened sectarian tensions following the arrests this month of 10 bodyguards of Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi.
Also, Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has been given several death sentences in absentia on terrorism charges.
He is now in Turkey.
Based on reporting by AP and Al-Arabiyah
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
