Iraq's young protesters vow to never give up

Mohammad Said Yasseen: "We are only carrying flags, we don't have anything else in our hands. But they keep hitting us, we've had at least seven martyrs here ... I want my rights, we are being oppressed. We have nothing: no schools, no decent...more

Hossam, an Iraqi demonstrator, poses for a photograph during ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq, November 5, 2019. "I'm out here to demand everybody's rights. The muhasasa (sectarian power sharing system) has destroyed us, the parties...more

Abeer, a medical volunteer. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Yasir 'Idan: "I want a nation, I want my rights. I don't have anything: not even a salary. Didn't they say they were going to give us salaries after the previous wave of protests? Well, nothing happened, they're all liars. We are not leaving -- from...more

Hamza: "I'm here protesting against corruption and to demand a nation. These politicians haven't given the people any solutions. God willing, our demands will be met if we continue our protest." REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Salwa Hussein: "I am here protesting against the government. We don't want this failed, corrupt government of Alibaba thieves who are beholden to Iran. We do not want them, we don't want them at all. By god's will and god's strength, we will get...more

Haider Khalaf Mahmoud: "I am here to make the government fall, so I can get my rights. Get rights for the people who were wounded, for those who died, for the country that they keep stealing from. Let them all leave. The only way is for the...more

Allawi, a tuk-tuk driver: "We are only demanding that we get rid of these corrupt officials, this government. They steal from us and we the people are all are poor ... We're not going away -- if this lasts a year, we'll stay." REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Hussein Karim Hashem: "I'm here to change this ruling class -- all of it. (Prime Minister) Adel Abdul Mahdi, (Speaker of Parliament Mohammad) al-Halboosi and the others. They're all corrupt. I want to get my rights, get my money, get my salary. I'm a...more

Mohammad: "We want our rights. We want the government to fall. I want rights for my brother who was killed here, on the bridge. I want rights for my friend who was killed here on the bridge. They're killing us and we're only here protesting...more

Ahmed: "I came to protest -- I'm born in 1992. I studied and I graduated top of my class from school, but no universities will accept me. And even if you graduate from university, there are no jobs. My friend Hussein, he graduated with a degree in...more

Abadar: "I want my rights, jobs, salary ... Really we want jobs. God willing. If we stay out here we'll get our rights." REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

An Iraqi demonstrator holds an Iraqi flag. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Mohammed: "I'm here protesting against the government. ... More than 250 people have died and there are many more wounded. They're all thugs, gangs who kidnap, kill. We don't want this government. We don't want any of them: we don't want Iran to...more

Mortada: "I want my rights. We want everything ... We will get there inshallah. By protesting. By asking for the nation." REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Hamza: "We have to stop the oppression of the Iraqi people." he said. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Hussein: "We are here peacefully protesting for human rights. We young people are tired, things aren't great: we have no jobs, we have no salaries ... We are not leaving -- even if this lasts 40 years. We won't leave until we get our victory." he...more

Rand Mohammad, a medical volunteer: "We are here to help our brothers in the square and to get our rights: we have no jobs, no water, no electricity, high unemployment, people are dying of hunger ... We have to stay here to achieve what we want....more