2012–13 Iraqi protests

2012–13 Iraqi protests
Part of the Iraqi insurgency (2011–13)
Date	21 December 2012 (2012-12-21)– December 2013 (~1 year)
Location	Iraq
Causes	Corruption Unemployment Poor national security Poor public services Marginalization of Sunnis Unfair treatment of prisoners Poor salaries of Sahwa militia Abuse of De-Ba'athification laws Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs
Methods	Demonstrations Strike actions
Result	Two-third wage increase for Sahwa militia members Release of 3,000 prisoners, including 600 female prisoners Crackdown by Security Forces results in renewed violence in Anbar
Parties to the civil conflict
Iraqi opposition groups Sunni protesters Army of Pride and Dignity Free Iraq Intifada Popular Movement in Iraq Iraqi government State of Law Coalition Iraqi Armed Forces Iraqi police
Lead figures
Decentralized leadership Rafi al-Issawi Former Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha Leader of Anbar Salvation Council Usama al-Nujayfi Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Sheikh Ali Hatem al-Suleiman Sunni Tribal Leader Ahmed al-Alwani Ramadi MP Sheik Abdul Malik Al-Saadi Sunni Cleric Nouri al-Maliki Prime Minister of Iraq Jalal Talabani President of Iraq
Casualties
Death(s)	200+

Iraqi opposition groups

Iraqi government

Decentralized leadership

The 2012–13 Iraqi protests started on 21 December 2012 following a raid on the home of Sunni Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi and the arrest of 10 of his bodyguards. Beginning in Fallujah, the protests afterwards spread throughout Sunni Arab parts of Iraq, and even gained support from non-Sunni Iraqi politicians such as Muqtada al-Sadr. The protests centered on the issue of the perceived sectarianism of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Pro-Maliki protests also took place throughout southern Iraq, where there is a Shia Arab majority. In April 2013, sectarian violence escalated after the 2013 Hawija clashes. The protests continued throughout 2013, and in December Maliki used security forces to forcefully close down the main protest camp, in Ramadi. Some Sunnis took up arms in response, and joined forces with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to conduct a military campaign against the Maliki government.

Iraqi Sunnis traditionally held power in Iraq, but the Sunni-dominated Ba'ath party was overthrown by the United States Armed Forces during the 2003 invasion, and Shia groups gained power. The majority of Iraqis are Shiites.

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