Gunmen Kill Iraqi Cleric Linked To Basra Protests

November 18, 2018 11:15 GMT

Iraqi police say a Muslim cleric has been killed outside his home after suggesting that demonstrators in the southern port city of Basra should take up arms over poor public services.

Basra police say Wissam al-Ghrawi was shot and killed in front of his house in Basra's city center by unknown attackers late on November 17.

He had been a prominent figure in recent demonstrations to demand clean water and reliable electricity in Basra.

Basra, a key transit point for more than 90 percent of Iraq's oil exports, suffers from contaminated drinking water and regular electricity outages.

Ghrawi had been filmed at a protest on November 16 saying that clerics would issue a fatwa within days on taking up arms.

The video footage was shared widely on Iraqi social media.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters