The youths gathered in and symbolically cleaned the former building of the
Iranian consulate in Basra which came under attack and was burned by a group of
attackers last Friday.
The youths also hoisted the national flag of Iran at the building and hanged the
photos of the Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini and the Leader of
the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on its walls to show their
deep solidarity with the Iranian people after the consulate building was
attacked and torched on September 7.
The move came after a public committee charged with holding rallies in Basra
issued a statement and acquitted itself of any involvement in the violent attack
on the Iranian consulate in the city. It also vehemently condemned any attack on
the governmental buildings, Popular Mobilization Units’ centers and Iran’s
consulate.
The statement then underlined that a group of missionaries affiliated with
Ba’ath party and ISIS have launched the attack and the people in Basra had no
role in the sabotage.
The symbolic move by the Basra youths also came one day after Iran’s ambassador
to Iraq opened a new consulate in the southern port city.
"I’m here to inaugurate the new premises of our Consulate in Basra…because we
don’t want to lose a single day in offering services to the people of Basra,”
Ambassador Iraj Masjedi said on September 11.
The Iraqi government said an investigation has begun over the performance of the
security forces responsible for protecting the mission.
This comes as many Iranian pilgrims are expected to visit neighbouring Iraq
later this month for Ashura, one of the most sacred days in the Shiite religious
calendar.
The city of Basra has seen the scene of growing protests in the past weeks. The
protesters are angry with corruption and the lack of basic services and jobs in
a province.
Source:IFP