Despite the warning issued by the Iraqi prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and the curfew, school and university students joined the protesters in the country.

According to Reuters, Iraqi security forces used teargas on Monday to disperse students in Baghdad. The protests went on in several neighborhoods across the capital.

Baghdad’s top military commander imposed a curfew from midnight until 6 a.m. “until further notice,” but protesters in the capital’s Tahrir Square remained defiant.

“No, we will stay. They have now declared a curfew and severe punishments for anyone not going to work, this is how they fight us. We will stay here until the last day, even if there are a thousand martyrs,” one protester said.

Students in other provinces have also joined the protesters.  

The protests in Iraq in the past months have become the Abdul-Mahdi’s biggest challenge in his one year as prime minister. Since the beginning of October, over 200 have been killed in Iraq protests.

On Friday and Saturday, Iraqi forces clashed with the protesters which left at least 74 casualties. However, protests on Sunday across the country were relatively peaceful and with tear gas being sporadically used.

Despite being a big oil producer, Iraq’s economy is in bad shape and most Iraqis live in poverty with limited access to drinking water, electricity, healthcare, and education.

Iraqis today believe their politicians who are either supported by the United States or Iran are responsible for the problems in the country.