Iraqi protesters set fire to parts of the Iranian consulate in Karbala

In protest against the killing of an Iraqi civil activist, a group of protesters attacked the Islamic Republic's consulate building in Karbala. They set fire to parts of the building, including the Iranian consulate guard post.

On Monday, May 10, the German news agency reported that a group of protesters attacked the consulate building of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karbala.

This attack took place on the evening of Sunday, May 9, in protest of the killing of an Iraqi civilian killer named Ihab Jawad al-Wazani.

It is said that several motorcyclists shot and killed this civil activist in the early hours of Sunday, May 9th.

Protesters then attacked the consulate building of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karbala. There are also reports of clashes between law enforcement forces and protesters.

It is said that Iraqi security forces opened fire to disperse the protesters, injuring at least ten protesters.

The German news agency continued its report by referring to videos published on social media showing protesters attempting to set fire to several guard posts as well as parts of the Iranian consulate building in Karbala.

The Islamic Republic of Iran condemned the attack on its diplomatic facilities in Iraq on Monday morning, through Saeed Khatibzadeh. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the Iraqi government to “fully fulfill its duties in protecting Iranian diplomatic facilities based on the 1961 Vienna Convention.”

According to Khatibzadeh, the Iranian Foreign Ministry submitted a note of protest to the Iraqi embassy in Tehran last night.

Iraqi authorities have refrained from commenting on the protesters' attack on the Iranian consulate in Karbala. It should be noted that Ihab Jawad al-Wazani was one of the organizers of the protest movement in Iraq.

Protesters have been taking to the streets since 2019, demanding comprehensive political reforms and an anti-corruption drive. Following the deadly attack on Ihab Jawad al-Wazani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced in a cabinet meeting that the country would take action to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.

The embassies of the United States and Britain have also condemned the deadly attack on this civil activist in Iraq.

Source: DW