How the Lebanese Revolution Is Inspiring the Iraqi People

On October 25th, the Iraqi people sprinted out into their streets to demand radical changes and out of the miseries they have been enduring for decades. While protests started earlier in the month, it is on that day the nation rose up, and their revolution started.  From Baghdad and various areas of Iraq, the Lebanese on Instagram have received messages from them via their photos and videos, tagging our revolution and our slogans, and some even taking pictures holding our Lebanese flag with theirs.

We couldn’t miss noticing the imprint of the Lebanese Revolution on theirs. From using our most famous slogans and proclaiming it a peaceful protest to singing our protesters’ songs, turning their protests into celebrations, and empowering the women of the Iraqi Revolution as vital elements, among others.

With the various messages I’ve seen on Instagram directed to our protesters, I.G style, I can’t but bring this to the attention of our public, for their IG messages are left mostly unanswered till now.

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Unlike our revolution, sadly though, their intended peaceful one is being strongly challenged in various parts of their country, even worse than what our protesters have faced in Nabatieh and downtown Beirut.

@iraq.will.be.freeembedded via  

We are indeed deeply blessed by our Army and security forces that see in our protesters their own brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. And family is a sacred bond that comes before any orders. Let us take a look together at the budding Iraqi Revolution, as we wish them peace, safety, and the ultimate achievement.

#1 #LebanonRevolts لبنان_ينتفض – #IraqRevolts العراق_ينتفض

Via The961

Until a few days ago, the Iraqi protesters used this slogan like ours, and they would tag their IG images with both slogans, ours and theirs. More recently, they have switched to using more predominantly the slogan, “I am going down the streets to take my rights.”

#2 Singing Baby Shark in their protests

@gulftodayembedded via  

Our protesters singing Baby Shark in Beirut to a kid in a car went viral as you know and was picked up major mainstream media news and vloggers, and now by the Iraqi protesters.

First in #Lebanon protests, now in #Basra protesters are dancing on the “Baby Shark” song.

I feel the Baby Shark song is becoming the new song of revolution Middle East. #IraqProtests #العراق_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/EiGFdyGcHi

— Lawk Ghafuri (@LawkGhafuri) October 28, 2019

#3 Eco-Friendly Attitude

Via The961

A beautiful face of our revolution has been the Lebanese people taking the initiative to clean the streets every morning after the protests and sit-ins of the night. For the past two weeks, it has been their way to participate in the revolution for a better Lebanon.

@zara.alabadyembedded via  

#4 Closing a bridge with their cars

Via New Lebanon

Lebanese Protesters in Jal El-Dib and all the way to Zalka blocked the highway with their cars to counter the attempts of the Lebanese Army to open the roads. They actually turned the highway into a parking lot to stand on their ground! And recently in Iraq:

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Well, Jal El-Dib, what have you done, setting such an example? 

#5 The face masks to make a statement

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From The Joker to Anonymous Masks, you’ve certainly seen them these past two weeks in the protests in Lebanon; many have been doing just that, wearing meaningful masks to make powerful statements. The Iraqi protesters are doing so too.

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#6 Protesting with loud drummers

Via Daily Mail

We might have been a bit too loud, too visible?

Via REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

#7 The kids of the Revolution

@fadiaibrahimofficialembedded via  

Like the children of the Lebanese Revolution learning the true meaning of patriotism and learning the importance to stand for their rights, the Iraqi children as well have joined their parents in the streets. Don’t miss reading: 20+ Spotted Children of the Lebanese Revolution.  Blessed be, the hope and legacy of a nation that refuses to die!

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#8  Turning the protests into a party

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Oh well… Aren’t we such an inspiration? Tripoli, Ya A3rousset El Thawara El Lebneniye, do you hear that?

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#9 Marriage proposals amid the protest

This Lebanese protester couldn’t even wait for the first week of the revolution to pass by. He had to propose to his sweetheart, publicly, amid his fellow protesters. And so we see now in the Iraqi protests:

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#10 Empowering the women of the revolution 

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The moment the Women of the Lebanese Revolution started to get attacked in their honor by anti-protest propaganda, the revolution reacted it with banners and online materials to empower them, hashtagging: Revolution is Female: الثورة_انثى. (The term in Arabic is actually feminine.) That slogan is being seen now in the Iraqi protests:

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#11 Spreading large flags by the protesting crowd

@lebanese_revolution_19embedded via  

Nothing makes a more powerful statement of unity in patriotism than such scenes, where hundreds of people join in to hold their massive flag as they spread it through and over the protesting crowd.

@ph.s99hembedded via  

#12 Empowering the kick-ass women of the revolution

Via By The East Desk

That real-life scene at the start of our revolution, when a young Lebanese woman reacted in defense of her fellow protesters, went viral and turned iconic to the revolution. In Iraq, the women of the revolution are taking also a similar stance. 

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#13 Revolutionary faces painted with the country’s flag

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This is one of the most powerful statements a protester could do: Becoming the personification of what their flag represents.

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#14 Marriages amid the protest

Via AFP / Middle East Eye

This was the first marriage the was celebrated in the Lebanese protest and which photos were picked up by the international mainstream media; the first, we say, because several others followed suit.  And now in Iraq:

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#15 Expressing the revolution artistically

Via @islam.fawaqa

Our Lebanese artists of the revolution have been on fire, conveying their emotions and messages on the streets as well as with illustrations, paintings, and graphic designs that have been circulating online. And here is one of the Iraqi revolution:

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#16 Bringing their games to their sit-ins

Via @shittarabsneversay

From card games to ball games and tawleh and baby foot matches, we’ve been seeing them in our protests from the onset of our revolution, which has been fueled with fun and empowering times. The Iraqi protesters are doing the same, making sure to lighten up the days of their sit-in during the difficult period they are living:

@bent_al_rafidain_embedded via  

It is significant to share that, despite that bright side of the Iraqi revolution, the protesters have been under tremendous duress. Their protests started actually early October before turning into a national revolution, and there have been hundreds of deaths and over six thousand wounded. 

@9rr71embedded via  

Both the UN and Amnesty International have tried to pressure the government to stop the violence, at no avail. 

Lebanon is writing its new history these days and you don’t want to miss it! Follow us on Instagram @the961 for continuous coverage of the current events, and join us also on Facebook @The961Lebanon to engage with our fans in Lebanon and abroad.