American and British companies in Baghdad, including KFC and Caterpillar, have been the target of a series of attacks in recent weeks, facing calls for boycott over their alleged links to Israel.
Security forces have arrested several people, including their members following the attacks.
Even neighboring shops and restaurants say they are affected and their business has slowed due to recent security lapses.
"Our livelihood has stopped," Abu Ali, a local whose shop is close to a KFC restaurant, told Rudaw's Ziyad Ismail. "People are scared. People would like to go to secure places. They want security. People are afraid, because they [the attacks] did not happen once, but twice and three times. That is why people panic. No one comes to the restaurant. It has affected the entire street, not just my shop. It has a direct influence on all of us.
“Our income has stopped and people are scared. When people want to go someplace, they firstly want a clean and secure place, so the situation is scary now.”
Eight of the 10 branches of American brands in Baghdad remain closed in fear of more attacks.
“We have discussed this subject and provided security [in response]. We have reiterated that all interests in Iraq are protected by the law. Everything in Iraq today, regardless of links to any country, is protected within the framework of the interior ministry,” Miqdad Miri, spokesperson of Iraq’s Ministry of the Interior, told Rudaw.
The US embassy recently warned that attacks on foreign businesses in Baghdad “could weaken Iraq’s ability to attract foreign investment,” while condemning the attacks.
Iraq’s foreign ministry has said that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) were not behind the recent attacks on several KFC franchises in Baghdad, days after Washington accused the group of engaging in violent activities.
“The attacks that took place on some restaurants were carried out by outlawed groups and do not in any way represent Hashd al-Shaabi,” the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement without directly referencing the restaurants.
Prior to the Iraqi foreign ministry's remarks, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller had told Rudaw, “We do remain concerned that individuals within the PMF are not responsive to the Iraqi commander in chief and engage in violent and destabilizing activities in Iraq and Syria.”
The Iraqi ministry described Miller’s remarks as “inaccurate information.”
Iraq is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and on several occasions has condemned the lack of international support for justice for Palestinians.
Reporting by Ziyad Ismail
