Thousands of supporters of Iraqi prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied on Friday evening in the capital Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, urging political and factional leaders to stay out of any conflict between Baghdad’s two biggest allies, Iran and the United States.
Sadr, whose political party, Sairoon Alliance, captured more parliamentary seats than any other party or alliance in Iraq’s parliamentary elections last year after being sidelined for years, opposed to both U.S. and Iranian influence in the country.
The demonstrators, rallying in Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad, carried Iraqi flags, white flowers and balloons. Some released dozens of white doves representing peace while chanting “Yes, Yes to peace. No, No to war.”
One of the banners called “No, no to war. Keep Iraq away from war and conflict.”
Demonstrations also took place in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and the city of Diwaniyah in central and southern Iraq after the Shiite cleric called for rallies across Iraq.