The response by one of the protesters in Iraq a few days ago was weird as K-9 dogs used by Iraqi security forces against protesters were countered by a lion.
A protester reportedly brought out his pet lion to counter the police dogs used by the security forces to quell the demonstrations across the country.
Some have described it as weird.
Recall that security forces announced that they would be using dogs to contain protesters.
But the unnamed Iraqi unleased a more fearsome animal with him while walking the streets of his hometown, in Iraq’s Babel province, south of Baghdad, reported alaraby.co.uk.
Photos and video emerged online showing the man walking his lion – conveniently draped in an Iraqi flag – who reportedly roared and lunged at passers-by. Fortunately, the lion was contained using a heavy chain for the entirety of the incident.
It’s reported that Iraqi lions were of the Asiatic variety which today are an endangered species and can only be found in India’s Gujarat state.
According to research, lions are no longer native to Iraq, and the last known native Iraqi lion was killed in 1918 in the south of the country.
A similar big cat was found in the private residence of a foreign national in the commercial capital city of Lagos a few days ago in Nigeria.
It was alleged that the owner was keeping the killer cat to ward off armed robbers around his vicinity.
Iraq protester brings out lion to counter police dogs used by security forces
Credit: EHA News pic.twitter.com/TC2HJudZ6W
— Opéyemí Quadri (@OpeQuadri) November 28, 2019
What caused protest in Iraq?
On October 1, 2019, protests against the Iraqi government began in response to rampant corruption, high levels of poverty and youth unemployment, poor public services, and sectarianism.
Political analysts have described the protest as the greatest threat to the Iraqi government since the defeat of the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq in 2017.
Less than 60 days since the protest, more than 330 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured.
Security forces have been condemned for using live fire and deadly military-grade tear gas grenades against protesters.
Despite lost of lives, more Iraqi protesters trooped the streets in Baghdad on Saturday, retaking four bridges in the capital from security forces.
The government has been urged to embark on real reform. Iraq’s foremost Shia Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani specifically told authorities to enact “real reforms” without delay.