Iraq demonstrators call for accountability: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Sabah Jawad, the director of the Iraqi Democrats against Occupation, in London, to discuss anti-corruption rallies in Iraq.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: How far do you think these measures that are being taken by Prime Minister al-Abadi will go in combating corruption in Iraq?

Jawad: Basically, he has not started on the corruption, yet. This is a very important demand of the demonstrators on the streets in Baghdad and the southern provinces and everywhere in Iraq and these demonstrations are increasing by numbers every week.

In fact, there is a continuation of the certain demands by these demonstrators, which started actually on the ground of improved services, the lack of infrastructure, electricity, water supplies and so on.

But now, it is getting much bigger; the demands of the demonstrators.... [They] are calling for accountability in terms of punishing those corrupt politicians who stole millions and billions of dollars. Iraq used to have a huge revenue from oil and nobody knows what has happened to the billions of dollars Iraq had earlier.

Presumably, all this has been squandered by corrupt politicians; and in fact, they were given sanctuaries in Europe and America. Some of them escaped with their millions and billions to Western countries and they are enjoying the fruit of their theft, if you like.

So the people are demanding actually that these people be brought back to justice and their money be recovered and they’re going beyond that.

Press TV: For Iraqis right now, specifically at a time when they are under attack by a Takfiri terrorist group like ISIL, how important is it for them to view their government as one that is working for the interests of the people and not for money or benefits?

Jawad: Well, you know, these demonstrators actually are very strong supporters of Popular Mobilization Forces and the fight against terrorism in Iraq and against ISIS. They consider themselves as the families of those fighting in the frontline against terrorism as well.

So, they are encouraging; and they consider themselves to be part of the mobilization forces in Iraq, which is also fighting the terrorist groups, and they think this is a primary duty of every Iraqi to fight that battle against the terrorists, because this is the future of Iraq, where we have to achieve victory against the terrorist ISIS and other groups in Iraq and all those who are backing them. The United States should disappear from Iraq; their influence should disappear from Iraq.

Therefore, they consider that the military battle against ISIS is also a battle against corruption because corruption and terrorism are one and they feed on each other.

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