Mass demonstrations on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the popular October movement
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the popular movement that began on 01 October 2019, mass demonstrations were launched in most of the central and southern cities of Iraq, calling once again for comprehensive reform, eliminating rampant corruption, and ending impunity for all perpetrators of all titles and the parties behind them who killed hundreds of peaceful demonstrators who only wanted, "a free and prosperous homeland for all.”
Among these activities was the lighting of candles by a number of young people on 25 October 2024, in Al-Tahrir Square in Baghdad, commemorating their fellow protesters who were killed in cold blood by security forces and armed groups, and renewing their pledge to make every effort to bring their killers to a fair trial.
Also, on 01 October 2024, a large demonstration was launched in Al-Haboubi Square in the city of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar Governorate, in which the protesters stressed that they would continue their demonstrations until their demands were met, most notably revealing the fate of the forcibly disappeared protesters.
On 25 October 2024, another massive demonstration was launched in Al-Haboubi Square as well, in which the participants stressed the need to maintain the peaceful nature of the protests and continue to raise the same demands that the protesters had demanded five years ago.
Popular demonstration against rampant corruption
On 13 September 2024, a mass demonstration started from the Ministry of Planning gate, in front of the entrances to the fortified Green Zone, which is the headquarters of government. Hundreds of protesters participated in the demonstration, demanding the disclosure of all those involved in the theft of public money, including the "theft of the century,” and holding them accountable before a fair judiciary. In addition, they called for the authorities to approve a fair and just salary scale for all, cancel the privileges of members of the Iraqi Parliament, and hold accountable the killers of the protesters of the October popular movement.
Excessive use of force against demonstrations by health professionals
Despite the severe repression faced by demonstrators who are graduates of health professions, including graduates of the faculties of pharmacy, dentistry, medical technology, and pathology, they continue to demonstrate to demand that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance appoint them to jobs.
The Medical and Health Professions Progression Law No. 6 of 2000 stipulates that graduates of faculties of pharmacy and medical and health professionals are appointed centrally by the government. Despite this, their total number is approximately 30,000 unemployed graduates.
On 11 August 2024, thousands of them, who came from various governorates, demonstrated in central Baghdad in front of the Ministry of Health and then the Ministry of Finance to demand they be appointed to jobs. The security forces suppressed their peaceful demonstration using batons and electric batons, and beat the demonstrators all over their bodies, including their heads, resulting in many of them being injured.
On 19 August 2024, they were attacked again after riot police tried to disperse their demonstration in front of the Ministry of Finance, beating them after besieging them under a bridge, using their feet, batons, and electric and metal rods. This resulted in 20 protesters being injured.
On 03 September 2024, hundreds of them gathered and headed towards the Green Zone, but riot police excessively suppressed them and prevented their progress. They were beaten and hot water hoses were used to disperse them, with more than 25 injuries recorded among them. On the same day, the Health Professions Syndicate – General Centre published a recording showing riot police assaulting a dentist during the same demonstration.
On 06 October 2024, health professional graduates of 2023 demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Health, in central Baghdad, demanding their right to a central appointment, the implementation of the medical progression law, and finding the necessary allocations to appoint the rest of their cohort. During the demonstration, riot police were deployed around the entrances to the ministry to prevent demonstrators from storming it.
On 07 November 2024, a television report confirmed that graduates of health and medical professions continued to sit in with their families in front of the Ministry of Health, but after 15 days, and despite promises, they did not receive any serious response to their demands from government agencies.
Al-Rusafa Police Chief orders arrest of TV staff
On 19 August 2024, the Al-Rusafa Police Chief issued an order to arrest Al-Sumaria Satellite TV staff while they were covering protests by medical graduates in front of the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad. Riot police beat the channel’s correspondent Amir Al-Khafaji and photojournalist Omar Abbas, and confiscated their equipment. Al-Khafaji then filed a complaint about the assault with the Al-Rusafa Police Chief, but he ordered his forces to arrest them. They were detained for more than two hours before being released after signing a written pledge.
Graduate protests targeted in Basra and Dhi Qar Governorates
On 16 September 2024, riot police used hot water to disperse a peaceful demonstration by a number of graduates who were holding a sit-in in front of the Basra Governorate Council. They confirmed that they will continue their sit-in, which has been ongoing for three years, until their goal of being appointed is achieved instead of being included in the lottery to fill job positions, as they have university degrees.
On the same day, dozens of graduates demonstrated in front of the Dhi Qar Governorate building, in the centre of Nasiriyah, to demand appointments. A number of demonstrators blocked nearby streets and burned tires, while riot police used tear gas to disperse them.
Two-thirds of South Korean-made tear gas exported to Iraq
The Asia News Network (ANN) reported on 19 August 2024 that Iraq was the destination for nearly 70 percent of South Korea’s tear gas exports in the first half of this year, making it the largest buyer by volume, police data showed.
Data from the Korean National Police Agency, obtained and provided by the minor Basic Income Party’s Rep. Yong Hye-in, shows that Iraq imported 478,000 of the 713,000 tear gas canisters exported by South Korea in the first half of this year, accounting for 67 percent of the total.
Security forces and armed groups have widely used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters since the start of the popular movement on 01 October 2019.
Malicious arrests in Dhi Qar Governorate
On 07 October 2024, the Dhi Qar Police Governorate Command announced on its Facebook page that Major General Najah Yasser Al-Abadi had assumed his duties as the Commander of the Dhi Qar Governorate Police. On 15 October 2024, Al-Abadi declared that, "There are more than 4,000 arrest warrants in all police stations in the governorate that we are working to implement in the coming period.” Reliable local sources confirmed that these arrest warrants include dozens of peaceful protesters who participated in the popular movement protests.
This was followed on 12 October 2024 and the following days by the issuance of arrest warrants and raids on the homes of a number of civil society activists, who were arrested after their families were intimidated, in addition to having malicious legal complaints filed against them related only to their peaceful participation in previous popular protests.
In response to Al-Abadi’s continued repressive policies against protesters and his failure to give some of them, for whom arrest warrants were issued, the opportunity to settle their affairs on their own without raiding their homes, a large popular demonstration was launched on 18 October 2024 in Al-Haboubi Square in the centre of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar Governorate, demanding the dismissal of the governorate’s Police Commander and the immediate release of all detained protesters. Security forces stormed the square, the centre of the protests in the governorate, and used tear gas, sound bombs, and live ammunition to disperse the protesters, in addition to beating them and dragging one protester. The protests continued in the following days.
Among those arrested during this period were civil society activists Ali Hussein Jabbar, Ghanem Muharib Al-Zuhairi, Murtada Jassim, Mohammed Attia Al-Iraqi and Abu Aya Al-Saeedi. They were all released on bail in late October 2024.
Those who remain in prison are Dhi Qar civil society activists Sheikh Amer Al-Khafaji, arrested on 12 November 2024, Hassan Hadi, arrested on 25 October 2024, Naseer Bassem, arrested on 17 October 2024, Ali Mahdi Ajeel, arrested on 15 October 2024, and Karar Al-Zirjawi, arrested on 13 October 2024. They were arrested by the Ministry of Interior’s Intelligence Agency and all were charged with inciting protests, except for Ajeel, who was charged with insulting a security agency in an audio recording.
Family of kidnapped civil society activist targeted during their sit-in
On 18 September 2024, on the fourth anniversary of the kidnapping of civil society activist Sajjad Al-Iraqi (Al-Mushrifawi), his mother and brother Abbas, along with a number of fellow civil society activists, set up a sit-in tent in front of the Dhi Qar Governorate building in the city of Nasiriyah, to demand that the central and local governments reveal his fate.
On 22 September 2024, the sit-in tent was shot at by an unknown person. After the protesters filed a complaint and monitored the nearby cameras, the perpetrator was identified and arrested, but the authorities quickly released him. In a speech from the sit-in tent, Al-Iraqi’s mother condemned the decision to release the perpetrator, who is the son of one of the kidnappers, despite his attempted murder of the protesters by firing 16 bullets at the tent. The sit-in lasted for a month and eight days before the protesters decided to end it after they sent their message to the various authorities.
Loose weapons claim the lives of citizens
The demand to restrict weapons to the state remains the goal that most citizens seek to achieve, as loose weapons have led to the loss of the lives of several citizens, including a number of civil society activists, as we note from the examples documented by GCHR in this report. The right to life is one of the most important basic rights for any human being, and this requires the authorities in Iraq to seriously seek to eliminate the phenomenon of loose weapons and end the activities of armed groups outside the law.
Two families completely exterminated
On 27 August 2024, an entire family, including the father, mother and their 15-year-old son, were killed after they were tied up in the city of Baiji in Salah Al-Din Governorate, and were then burned. On 21 August 2024, a mother and her five children, including three kids, were killed and their house in the Al-Abbasiya area of Samarra, also in Salah Al-Din Governorate, was burned. Five other members of this family were killed in 2021: their father, the head of the family and the head of the area, their grandfather, their uncle, and two cousins.
The victims’ relatives have raised many questions about the role of the security forces controlling the two cities in preventing the perpetrators from committing their crimes, and the need to restrict weapons to the state as a fundamental factor in spreading community peace.
Sheikh Mohammed Shawi killed
On 23 October 2024, Sheikh Mohammed Shawi, the sheikh of the Dhahibat tribe in Ali Al-Gharbi district, in Maysan Governorate, died in the hospital due to the serious injuries he sustained as a result of a fight with sticks that broke out on 19 October 2024 with another clan in Ali Al-Gharbi district. Maysan Police Command announced the arrest of three suspects who caused the brawl, and charged them with premeditated murder according to Article (406) of the Iraqi Penal Code.
Lawyer Haider Hussein Al-Issawi assassinated
On 25 September 2024, lawyer Haider Hussein Al-Issawi was assassinated by gunmen riding a motorcycle in front of the court of Al-Haidariya District, affiliated with Najaf Governorate. Reliable local sources confirmed that his assassination was related to his representation in a disputed land case in this district, and despite the threats he received and the fact that he survived a previous assassination attempt several months ago, he refused to give up defending his client. He eventually won the case, but upon leaving the courtroom, he became a victim of loose weapons and armed gangs. Al-Issawi was a well-known figure in Najaf, known for winning the cases he took on due to his extensive experience.
Najaf Police Command announced on the same day the arrest of the nine perpetrators, who it alleged were involved in the assassination. The next day, his fellow lawyers held a vigil in Al-Haidariya district to mourn his loss.
Lawyer Ahmed Abbas Kadhim Al-Asadi murdered
On 27 August 2024, security forces found the body of lawyer Ahmed Abbas Kadhim Al-Asadi murdered and lying on the floor of his office in Baghdad. Local sources confirmed that they had lost contact with him since the evening of the previous day.
On 28 August 2024, the Iraqi Bar Association, of which he was a member, issued a statement saying, "The Iraqi Bar Association announces the arrest of the killer of our colleague, lawyer Ahmed Al-Asadi.” The association also confirmed that, "This crime was the result of lawyer Ahmed Al-Asadi’s position in a criminal case in which he was participating, which prompted the perpetrator to commit this heinous act.”
Personal Status Law amended
On 16 September 2024, the Iraqi Parliament completed the second reading of the proposed amendment of Articles (2) and (10) of the Personal Status Law No. (188) of 1959. On 27 October 2024, the Parliament decided to postpone voting on the proposed amendment.
On 15 August 2024, under the title, "For the sake of the homeland and the citizen,” a group of women academics, writers, media professionals, and artists issued an appeal that included their declaration to reject any proposed amendment to the Personal Status Law 188 of 1959, which the appeal described as, "uniting Iraqis in their personal status and establishing the foundations of justice and equality among citizens, men and women, regardless of their religious, ethnic, and sectarian affiliations.” The appeal also stated, "We believe that the law must be fair and inclusive for all Iraqis without discrimination or bias, and that any attempt to amend the Personal Status Law must be within the framework of respecting women’s rights and international agreements to which Iraq has committed, and must be protective of childhood and the future of future generations.” The appeal concluded by strongly condemning "the campaigns of defamation and treason that are being waged against free voices that reject these amendments and seek to silence and suppress them.”
On 11 October 2024, dozens of women organised a demonstration in Al-Mutanabbi Street, in central Baghdad, to announce their rejection of the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law, and raised slogans affirming the protection of women’s rights in Iraq and opposing the enactment of any laws that restricts them.
National Conference 2024 issues final statement on Personal Status Law
On 13 November 2024, the 188 Alliance for the Defense of the Personal Status Law issued the final statement of the conference, which included representatives of political, parliamentary, and civil forces and women’s networks, in addition to human rights defenders and civil society organisations, which announced, "a unified position rejecting the draft amendment to the current Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959, which is considered one of the most important laws that contributed to the stability of Iraqi society and the preservation of the unity of its diverse religious, sectarian and national fabric over six and a half decades, as these amendments come with sectarian and religious backgrounds, which contradict the principles of the Iraqi constitution, which emphasises equal citizenship before the law and the preservation of the dignity of women and children and the protection of the family and society from fragmentation and disintegration, and threatens the jurisdiction of the judiciary as a supreme authority over which there is no authority except the law itself.”
Members of Parliament asked to propose fundamental amendments to draft law on the right to access information
On 13 September 2024, GCHR, in partnership with hundreds of human rights organisations, including its partners ARTICLE19 and Access Now, and a large number of journalists and academics, signed an open letter addressed to members of the Iraqi Parliament calling for fundamental changes to the proposed draft law on the right to access information.
The letter stated that, "The bill, which had its second reading on 3 August, was introduced disregarding numerous concerns raised by civil society organisations, journalists, and experts. These concerns highlighted the bill’s conflict with the spirit of the Iraqi Constitution and international standards on the right to access information and freedom of expression, both of which Iraq has committed to upholding as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In particular, several provisions in the bill impose restrictions on access to information in key areas of government activities without considering the public interest and in a way that is incompatible with human rights standards.”
The statement concluded by stressing the need to hold "members of the Iraqi Parliament accountable for ensuring that the provisions of the law do not conflict with the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Iraqi Constitution, as well as for upholding Iraq’s international obligations under the agreements and treaties it has ratified. We also affirm the right of NGOs to challenge the constitutionality of the law before the Federal Court if the Parliament proceeds with passing it in its current form, and to protest against the law through all legitimate means available.”
Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights remains without Board of Commissioners
The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) has been without a Board of Commissioners since the Iraqi Parliament ended the second session of the Board of Commissioners in August 2021 after its legal term had expired. Since then, the Parliament has failed to appoint a new Board of Commissioners due to the lack of political consensus, according to some observers, while other observers attribute this to the attempt by some ruling political forces to punish the Commission for documenting the serious violations that occurred during the October popular movement in 2019, and issuing numerous reports and statements on the number of victims of the popular protests, in addition to speaking with an independent voice from the government and its serious call for respect for human rights.
On 13 September 2023, the Iraqi Council of Ministers assigned the Minister of Justice, Dr. Khaled Shawani, to be its acting commissioner, in clear contradiction to the text of Article 2 of the Commission’s Law, which states that it "enjoys a legal personality and has financial and administrative independence. Its headquarters shall be in Baghdad, and it shall be affiliated with the Parliament and shall be accountable to it.”
On 06 November 2024, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office issued a decision appointing Saad Mazloum Al-Abdali as an advisor to the IHCHR, in a new decision that violates its law, undermines its independence, and paves the way for gradually turning it into a tool in the hands of the government.
The absence of a Board of Commissioners has led to the IHCHR facing a legal vacuum, currently limiting its work to spreading and promoting a culture of human rights, as its law has assigned the basic tasks, including monitoring, documenting, issuing reports, and accepting complaints about human rights violations, to the Board of Commissioners only.
The website of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) indicates that the IHCHR enjoys classification (A), which is the highest classification available, meaning that it is fully compliant with the Paris Principles for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. However, its classification may be reduced to classification (B) due to the absence of a Board of Commissioners and the current government control over its capabilities.
It was formed in 2012, in accordance with Law (53) of 2008 after the dissolution of the Ministry of Human Rights, in accordance with Article (102) of the Iraqi Constitution of 2005, which stipulates that it is an independent body subject to the oversight of the Parliament.
Civil society activists and journalists arrested
Authorities continue their anti-human rights policies, seeking to restrict civil society activists and independent journalists who express opinions contrary to government policies.
Civil society activist Abu Al-Hassan Al-Shawi
On 27 October 2024, civil society activist Abu Al-Hassan Al-Shawi was imprisoned by order of the investigating judge of the Al-Midaina district, affiliated with Basra Governorate and located to the north, following a lawsuit filed against him by the district’s municipality director. His fellow civil society activists confirmed that his arrest came after he published a video on his Facebook page on 11 October 2024, in which he talked about a project approved by the municipality director and which contained major suspicions of corruption and waste of public money. The district’s residents expressed solidarity with him due to his defense of their rights, and he was released on bail on 30 October 2024. Informed local sources reported that the district’s municipality director had recently dropped the complaint.
Al-Shawi uses his Facebook page to express his personal views, follow projects in the region, and highlight corrupt projects.
On 30 October 2024, he wrote a post that read, "The cases in which we believe there are suspicions of corruption and waste of public money require public attention to ensure that they are addressed in a way that serves the interests of Basra and our city. Fighting corruption may present us with legal challenges, and I have received many files supported by evidence in which I believe there are suspicions of corruption and waste of public money. Some of these files have been handed over to the fair judiciary, while the rest will be handed over soon.”
Civil society activists Ammar Al-Halfi and Aboud Guevara
On 20 October 2024, security forces in Basra arbitrarily arrested civil society activists Ammar Al-Halfi and Aboud Guevara while they were filming a campaign to remove encroachments in the city, after they had previously demanded that the procedures for removing encroachments be applied to all citizens without exception for influential people.
On 20 October 2024, a number of civil society activists and human rights organisations organised a protest on the Shatt Al-Arab Corniche, demanding their release, an end to the policy of silencing people through arbitrary arrests, and to stop repeating the malicious arrests that took place in Nasiriyah against them. They also denounced the Second Deputy Governor of Basra for issuing arrest warrants against them without any judicial procedures, as the legal representative of the Basra Governorate Office filed a judicial complaint more than four hours after their illegal detention.
On 29 October 2024, both were released on bail.
Journalist Nasser Al-Yasiri
On the morning of 04 October 2024, a security force affiliated with the National Security Service arrested journalist Nasser Al-Yasiri after storming his home in the city of Karbala due to posts he published on his Facebook page. Reliable local sources confirmed that his arrest came at the instigation of some Facebook accounts that described his posts as allegedly "posing a threat to national security.” On 14 October 2024, he was released after his case was referred to the Karbala Criminal Court in accordance with the fifth paragraph of Article (372) of the Iraqi Penal Code on insulting symbols and figures.
Al-Yasiri uses his Facebook account to express his personal opinions in which he criticises the current political situation. Local informed sources confirmed that he had previously been arrested in 2011 by security forces during a peaceful demonstration in Baghdad, where his head was covered with a bag and he was released the next day. Despite this, he continued to publish his opinions. After his latest targeting, he was forced to delete his previous Facebook account and create a new page for himself.
Journalist Safaa Rashid
On 01 September 2024, journalist Safaa Rashid, who lives in the city of Al-Numaniyah in Wasit Governorate, published a post on his Facebook page in which he called for the need for citizens to contribute to choosing the administrative official for their region. Among his writing was that, "The position of the mayor of Al-Numaniyah district is an essential and very important position within the administrative unit and is like a "governor” within the administrative unit. His selection should not be limited to the political class, as his selection should be done with the participation of the city’s people.” He explained by saying, "We are not prepared to spend another 15 years of life in injustice and deprivation under the leadership of a weak administrative unit who is unable to confront the simplest corrupt contractor.” It is worth noting that the current mayor has been in office for 15 years, and the city is still suffering from deprivation and poor public services.
On 28 September 2024, he posted on his page a judicial summons issued by the Presidency of the Wasit Court of Appeal on 22 September 2024, requesting him to appear before the Al-Numaniyah Investigation Court to be investigated on charges of defamation and slander according to Article (433) following a complaint filed against him by the mayor Muhammad Eidan Mahdi. He confirmed his intention to go the next day.
On 06 October 2024, he also announced on his page that he would attend the investigation at the Judicial Investigation Office in the city of Al-Numaniyah. After the investigation was completed, the investigating judge tried to detain him for four days, but a number of lawyers defended him, resulting in his release on bail by a guarantor, and the case was referred to the Al-Numaniyah Misdemeanor Court.
Human rights defender Ali Al-Abadi
On 17 September 2024, prominent human rights defender Ali Al-Abadi, head of the Iraq Center for Human Rights, was summoned to appear before the Investigation Court for Publication and Media Cases. When he appeared a few days after his summons, it turned out that the complainant was the Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Interior. He was interrogated for more than an hour about statements he had previously made, which focused on his rejection of the policy of gagging and highlighting torture in Iraqi prisons. He was charged with defamation under Article (433) of the Iraqi Penal Code and was released on bail.
GCHR had previously documented that a judicial summons was issued against him under the same article after a complaint was filed against him by the National Security Service due to statements he had made about torture in Iraqi prisons as well.
Journalist Qais Hassan
On 16 July 2024, former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi filed a lawsuit against writer and journalist Qais Hassan, demanding compensation of 250 million dinars, equivalent to about USD $175,000, accusing him of insulting him.
The complaint is related to a post written by Hassan on his Facebook page on 30 June 2024, in which he stated that, "The worst people in thought and behaviour ruled Iraq after 2003,” and added, "I do not exclude any of them at all… and Al-Kadhimi surpassed them all.” The post disappeared after this lawsuit was filed.
The Al-Karkh Court of First Instance held two sessions, after which the judge decided to refer the case to a publishing expert to state his opinion on the post.
On 22 August 2024, Hassan announced on his Facebook page that the trial hearing would be postponed until 01 September 2024, and that the case would be referred to a committee of three experts after Al-Kadhimi’s lawyer rejected the opinion of the first expert. The committee submitted its initial report, stating that there was an insult in what he published, although the first expert also reached the same conclusion.
The Tripartite Committee was expected to submit its concluding observations on 17 November 2024, so that the judge could issue his ruling on the case, but it did not do so, so he decided to postpone the hearing to 28 November 2024.
Poet and human rights defender Humam Qabbani
On the evening of 15 August 2024, poet, writer, and human rights defender Humam Qabbani was arrested by a force affiliated with the National Security Service, who took him from his home in the city of Al-Hayy in Wasit Governorate after confiscating all his personal devices, without clarifying the reasons for the arrest or the charges against him. Local sources confirmed that he was isolated from the outside world during the first night of his detention, and after intensive efforts, the security authorities clarified that he was arrested because of what he published on social media.
His lawyer, Anmar Anad, announced on 18 August 2024, in a recording he posted on his Facebook page, that it became clear to him after he was able to meet with him that he was subjected to "terrifying methods of torture.” The security authorities forced him to abandon his lawyer. He was released on bail of 15 million Iraqi dinars on 29 August 2024, after being charged with "publishing indecent content” in accordance with Article 403 of the Iraqi Penal Code.
Qabbani used his Facebook page to publish his personal opinions, including his rejection of amendments to the Personal Status Law. The following phrase appears on the top of his page: "Against every dark authority that prevents the human mind from reaching the light of freedom.” His page became inaccessible after he was targeted.
Qabbani is considered one of the most prominent contributors to the peaceful protests in Wasit Governorate. He is also a well-known poet who has published several poetry collections, including "The Sky Told Me”, which he published in Baghdad in 2008, in addition to his writings published in various newspapers, magazines, and websites. He has won several literary awards, including the third Kuwaiti Al-Arabi Magazine Award in 2009.
Civil society activist Hassan Jarallah
On 07 August 2024, the Baqubah Misdemeanor Court in Diyala Governorate issued its ruling against civil society activist Hassan Jarallah, fining him 400,000 Iraqi dinars after he was convicted of defamation under Article (433) of the Iraqi Penal Code. GCHR has previously documented the details of the case filed against him, which is related to his peaceful activism in defending human rights, and includes him speaking out after receiving appeals from the families of some students to talk about cases of blackmail and forgery of documents occurring in a private school in Baladruz District, Diyala Governorate. On 11 September 2024, the Judicial Cassation Authority rejected his request to dismiss the ruling issued against him.
Policy of gagging expression has expanded
The policy of gagging expression has expanded until it has begun to threaten freedom of expression, which is a basic right of all citizens without discrimination.
Director of an international airport prohibits criticism
In a circular within an official letter addressed by the Director of Najaf International Airport on 02 November 2024, to all airport departments, he ordered all employees not to publish any criticism of the airport facilities and services, warning them that services would be terminated. This letter was widely circulated in various media outlets and was met with condemnation from various citizens.
Law professors banned from appearing in the media
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research decided to ban law professors from appearing in television interviews based on directives issued by the office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The document, dated 11 September 2024, which was circulated in the media, and issued by the legal department of the same ministry, according to the request sent by the Prime Minister’s Office, states, "Prohibiting lecturers in the field of law from participating in television interviews… without permission from the faculty to which they belong and on condition that they are competent in the subject and that there is a public interest in participating.”
Freedom of expression is a right guaranteed by Article (38) of the Iraqi Constitution to all citizens without any exception or conditions. There is no doubt that this decision is unconstitutional and contradicts all principles of human rights.
Media outlet harassed
On 21 August 2024, ABC Arabic published a statement on its Facebook page announcing that the agency had faced "an arbitrary, unjust and illegal measure that is not based on the constitution or any press regulations and an attempt to silence and violate freedom of expression by some government agencies, represented by the Ministry of Communications blocking the website as of today.” The agency confirmed in its statement that it is registered with the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and will file a lawsuit against this arbitrary decision that came without prior warning.
Recommendations
Once again, GCHR calls on the Iraqi government to assume full responsibility in protecting all citizens, including human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, and members of vulnerable minorities.
In addition, the relevant Iraqi authorities must clearly and unequivocally identify all perpetrators of the kidnapping, torture and killing of citizens, including human rights defenders, lawyers, peaceful protesters and other activists, and bring them to justice immediately.
The authorities must fulfil their constitutional obligations not to violate public freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of the media, and not to legislate laws that violate the rights of all citizens.
source/ GCHR