Hundreds of angry protesters blocked major roads leading to oil fields in Maysan on Wednesday, protesting the continued closure of the Al-Shaib border crossing with Iran for the second week in a row. Protest organizers are now considering turning the demonstrations into an open-ended sit-in.
Mohammed Rajab, a member of the protest committee, said the closure has badly affected local businesses and workers, especially truck drivers, bus drivers, and others who depend on the border crossing for their daily income.
He explained that the protesters want the government in Baghdad to reconsider its decision and reopen the crossing. Al-Shaib is an important route for trade and the movement of goods, but it is also used by people traveling for tourism, medical treatment, and visits to holy shrines.
Rajab added that organizers are considering extending the protests into an open-ended sit-in in the coming days if the crossing remains closed.