President Salih: Any Armed action towards protesters is prohibited

 INA – BAGHDAD

President Barham Salih asserted the right of peaceful protest and to prevent and criminalize any armed and violent response against peaceful demonstrators, while calling for security services to protect peaceful demonstrators, public and private property in addition to prosecute criminals.

A statement issued by Salih’s office included that “The President is following with great interest, what happened on Friday with the relevant governmental authorities where an armed criminal attack by criminal gangs and outlaws that led to the death of a number of martyrs and other injuries in the protests"

He stressed that the legitimate right of any citizen to peacefully protest and demonstrate, as to prevent and criminalize any armed and violent response against peaceful demonstrators.

"The responsibility of the security forces is to protect peaceful demonstrators and public and private properties, maintain the lives of citizens, prosecute criminals and outlaws as to arrest them and refer them to the judiciary to obtain the punishment they deserve," included the statement.

Salih called on everyone to respect the peaceful demonstrations that call for reform, social coexistence, and cooperation between the citizens and the state's security forces to maintain public security and confront outlaws.