Iraqi Police Use Force to Disperse Medical School Graduates Protest in Baghdad

Iraqi graduates protest near the Green Zone in Baghdad. (EPA file photo)
Iraqi graduates protest near the Green Zone in Baghdad. (EPA file photo)
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Iraqi Police Use Force to Disperse Medical School Graduates Protest in Baghdad

Iraqi graduates protest near the Green Zone in Baghdad. (EPA file photo)
Iraqi graduates protest near the Green Zone in Baghdad. (EPA file photo)

Thousands of medical school graduates took to the streets of Baghdad on Tuesday to protest against the failure to hire them for public sector jobs over a year since they graduated.

The police used excessive force to disperse them, complained several protesters, who gathered near the Green Zone that houses government buildings.

Over 25 people were wounded in the rallies, while activists said eleven have “gone missing” and believed to be detained by security forces.

Witnesses said riot police used clubs and water cannon to disperse the protesters, leaving them with injuries.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered a probe into the violence, stressing that all Iraqis have the right to hold peaceful protests.

On Monday, the PM approved the appointment of nearly 60,000 doctors in the public sector. The cabinet agreed to allocate the necessary funds to finance their salaries.

The appointments weren’t enough to quell the anger on the streets.

Head of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee Arshad al-Salihi noted that the growing number of private universities has led to a growing number of medical school graduates, while there aren’t enough public sector job vacancies for them to fill.

He called on the state to provide different job grades for the graduates to ensure that they are hired.

Medical sources doubted that the state would be able to meet the demand for employment by the graduates due to their swelling numbers every year.

The sources explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the majority of the private universities are owned by powerful political figures and parties.

One year at medical school costs at least 10 million dinars, or about 7,000 dollars, they added.

However, several health specialists have complained that the graduates aren’t even qualified enough for jobs given the poor and outdated educational standards at the universities they studied at.

“The greatest crime successive authorities in Iraq have committed – under the pressure of influential parties – is allowing the establishment of dozens of private universities that are specialized in various medical studies,” they added.

The sources predicted that the problem of unemployed graduates will only deepen with time and the government will find itself unable to contain their large numbers.



Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
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Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel.

"I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war.

Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace and Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Hezbollah has condemned Israel's strikes on Iran and expressed full solidarity with its leadership.

Hezbollah on Thursday expressed support for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following threats by Israeli leaders that he could be killed.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that “threats to assassinate (Khamenei) are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.”

But the group has stopped short of making explicit threats to intervene.

Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist" after an Israeli hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack.

"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed -- he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal," Israel Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv. "Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."

Killing Khamenei would "end the conflict" between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.