Iraq’s most senior Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, on Dec. 13 condemned the kidnappings of Iraqi activists and demonstrators in protest squares and stressed the need for weapons to be under the control of the Iraqi state.

A day earlier, the US Embassy in Baghdad had issued a statement condemning the kidnappings, and Amnesty International called on the Iraqi government to assume its responsibilities and take immediate and effective steps to stop the intimidation of activists.

“The US Embassy continues to receive disturbing accounts of citizens, demonstrators and activists being threatened, kidnapped or killed. These actions should not be tolerated, and the government of Iraq cannot allow these lawless criminal events to continue without action. We strongly condemn the use of violence and intimidation to hinder peaceful, lawful and just demonstrations,” the US Embassy said in a statement received by Al-Monitor.

On Dec. 11, Iraqi activists Omar al-Amiri and Salman al-Mansouri were kidnapped as they were leaving Tahrir Square, the main protest square, to go to the city of Kadhimiya north of Baghdad and buy tents for the protesters.