The repercussions of the wave of protests that broke out in Basra in July were still felt in the southern Iraqi province as authorities continued to arrest activists in a bid to prevent them from demanding their basic rights, one of the activists said Monday. Two young men were killed in Basra Monday, becoming the latest victims in a cycle of assassinations witnessed in the city. Iraqi police did not issue any statement to comment on the development. Since July, demonstrators took to the streets of Basra to protest against corruption and demand improved services and job opportunities. The assassination of the two men on Monday came after Iraqi authorities issued arrest warrants against 16 civil activists, whose homes were raided by police officers on grounds of being involved in the burning of political party offices and the Iranian consulate in September. Activist Wael Al-Zamel told Asharq Al-Awsat: “I believe that the arrest warrants are malicious, because they are against protesters, who were not involved in the burning of political party offices in Basra and other incidents.” Other activists said that Youssef Thanawi, the leader of “God’s Revenge”, a militia with strong ties to Iran, was behind the arrest warrants. An activist, who wished to remain anonymous, said that some protesters had burned the offices of “God’s Revenge” following personal disputes that erupted between them and Thanawi. The protesters had objected to Thanawi’s leading of 2015 street protests because of his links to Iran and suspicious incidents in Basra.