Dozens of Kut engineers on sit-in strike, demanding release of their Colleague

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: Dozens of engineers of the Ministry of Housing in southern Iraq’s Wassit Province have began a sit-in demonstration on Wednesday, demanding legal projection for them and to release one of their colleagues, arrested by the Iraqi Integrity Commission, the Engineers Syndicate’s Chief reported.   “Dozens of engineers, working in the projects f the Housing Ministry in Wassit Province have started a sit-in demonstration in front of the Province’s Council,” Engineer Jassim Mohammed Redha told IraqiNews.com news agency.   He said the engineers have demanded the release of their colleague, holding the post of Resident Engineer for a housing compound, 40 km to the south of Kut, Engineer Muhsin Mihbas, who was detained by the Integrity Commission in Baghdad , without giving the reasons for his detention.   “The sit-in demonstrators have also demanded a legal protection for them, through a parliamentary legislation that secures their protection and granting them rights for decent housing, similar to doctors and journalists,” he added.   Redha also demanded the Central Government in Baghdad , the Iraqi Parliament and the Supreme Judicial Council, to restore the case of the detention of their Colleague Muhsin Mihbas, after his release, adding that the Council’s Chairman had received the demands of the sit-in demonstrators, promising to implement them according to the law.   Noteworthy is that the Iraqi Engineers Syndicate had held a conference on 13/9/2011, in prelude for organizing their sit-in demonstration, in the background of the detention of their said Colleague by the Integrity Commission.   Kut, the center of Wassit Province , is 180 km to the southeast of Baghdad .   SKH (FT)