3 demonstrators arrested in Thi Qar

THI QAR / IraqiNews.com: The security forces arrested today a group of demonstrators for not having an official permit. The demonstrators declared that these arrests are “contrary to the constitution.” Naseer Baqir of the February Gathering, which organized the demonstration, told IraqiNews.com that the security forces arrested the demonstrators with the pretext of not having an official permit. He added that three demonstrators were taken to unknown destination. Demonstrator Abbas Ak-Ghizi told IraqiNews.com that “we were surprised with the police acts and forcing about 20 demonstrators to enter into small vans, before the people intervened to save them”. Security sources stated that the demonstration had no permit, but the arrested three were set free after signing a pledge not to participate in unlicensed demonstrations in the future. Thi Qar police forces announced, earlier, that there are orders to protect the demonstrators, even if they do not have the official permit. The province witnesses every Friday a demonstration demanding better services and eradication of administrative and financial corruption Nassiriya city, center of Thi Qar province, lies 380 km south of the capital, Baghdad. 694