- Title: Funeral held as death toll climbs, Iraqi protests escalate for third day
- Date: 3rd October 2019
- Summary: BASRA, IRAQ (OCTOBER 3, 2019) (REUTERS) COFFIN CARRYING THE BODY OF KILLED ACTIVIST BEING TAKEN OUT OF MORGUE VARIOUS OF COFFIN BEING CARRIED, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS MARCHING COFFIN BEING PLACED INTO VEHICLE COFFIN PLACED IN VEHICLE, SOUND OF MOURNING SCREAMS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ACTIVIST AND FRIEND OF DECEASED, MONTAZER AL KARKOOSHI, SAYING: "Yesterday, they were taking part in the protests by giving medical aid to the protesters. They returned home late at night in the middle of Basra, unknown armed men entered their home and shot artist and activist, Hussein Adel seven times. His wife was so afraid she hid behind the fridge, they shot her in the head." FAMILY MEMBERS MOURNING VARIOUS OF FAMILY MEMBERS MOURNING FAMILY MEMBERS ON GROUND MOURNING PEOPLE MOURNING
- Embargoed: 17th October 2019 14:48
- Keywords: anti-government protests basra funeral police protesters activists
- Location: BASRA, IRAQ
- City: BASRA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZJN5TZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Funerals were held on Thursday (October 3) for an activist couple were shot dead in their home in Iraq's southern city of Basra on Wednesday (October 2).
Demonstrations began in Baghdad on Tuesday (October 1) and quickly grew and spread to other cities, mainly in Iraq's south. Police fired live rounds, tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters.
Activists Hussein Adel and Sarah Taleb were both present at protests in Basra to help those wounded at the demonstrations. Security sources said they had received threats from powerful militia groups in Basra last year.
A friend, Montazer al Karkooshi, said that the couple were killed by unknown armed men in their home.
Protesters have directed their anger at a government and political class they say is corrupt and doing nothing to improve their lives. They demanded jobs, better services and called for the "downfall of the regime".
At least 19 people have been killed since the protests erupted three days ago, seemingly independent of any organised political party and taking the security forces by surprise.
(Production: Mohamed Atti, Mostafa Salem) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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