Iraqi protesters set fire to the Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Bakir Al-Hakim's shrine in the city of Najaf on Saturday, the Reuters news agency reported. According to the video, which the agency received from an eye-witness, the demonstrators cheered and made video recordings of the burning building.
#Iraq: Someone put fire on a mausoleum in #Najaf, which is for many Shia a holy-like town. pic.twitter.com/YZloHLLZFZ
— Ali Özkök (@Ozkok_A) November 30, 2019
Police forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters, the agency added, citing police officers and a demonstrator at the scene.
The incident occurred after Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi submitted his letter of resignation to the Parliament, which will vote on the matter on 1 December.
Mass protests have engulfed the Middle Eastern nation since early October, with people demanding the government's resignation, economic reforms, better living conditions, social welfare, and an end to corruption.
