Louay Alzaher, a member of the Iraqi community in Brisbane, told 91自拍论坛 Weekly that corruption, food shortages and high levels of unemployment have been the catalysts of the protest movement that has erupted in Iraq.
鈥淭he significance of the Iraqi movement is enormous, as it seeks to fight for the freedom of Iraq from control and influence, including the total removal of United States military bases from the country,鈥 said Alzaher.
鈥淭he Iraqi revolutionaries have made clear, both verbally and with slogans, that they want complete freedom for their country and a national identity for all Iraqis. This common ground has united the people of Iraq in support of this movement.鈥
Alzaher said that 鈥渇rom day one鈥 the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States 鈥渓eft a path of destruction鈥 and, in combination with the US invasion in 1991 invasion, has redefined the country鈥檚 political landscape, including the left.
鈥淚t is the US who appointed all of the political leaders and groups in Iraq. Additionally, they began the systematic killing of Iraqis before employing death squads, SWAT [teams] and Special Forces to spread terror.鈥
鈥淭here is no longer an 鈥業raqi left鈥 and there hasn't been such since 1992.鈥
This changing landscape is evident in the new movement, according to Alzaher. 鈥淭he uprising is being led by the people themselves with no involvement from political parties.
鈥淰ictory for this uprising will spur the emergence of many socialist parties, because historically, Iraq tends toward the left.
鈥淭o the Iraqis, there are no alternatives to victory outside of death itself. No one can ever guarantee that this revolution will achieve victory for one reason: the entire world is against it.
鈥淗owever, the Iraqi revolutionaries have the determination to fight until the end, even going as far as saying that, if Algeria could submit one million martyrs against the French, then Iraq will fight with ten million.
Alzaher said international pressure is needed, 鈥渆specially on the United Nations, to stand with the movement in Iraq鈥.
The uprisings in neighbouring Iran are, in part, related to what is happening in Iraq, 鈥渟ince the Iranian regime is involved in the US-designed Iraqi political process鈥.
鈥淏oth Iranians and Iraqis are suffering similar plights under a totalitarian regime.
鈥淭he Iraqi uprising has also awakened the people of Lebanon and Iran from a dormant state to rise up against their own political and economic misfortunes.鈥
Alzaher said that 鈥渋n some respects, the Iraqi uprising can be viewed as part of the wider struggle in the Middle East鈥. However, the Iraqi people have their own particular fight 鈥渢o repair the damage done to their nation鈥.