“The Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are failing in their obligations under international and Iraqi law to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against journalists, activists, human rights defenders and protesters,” reads a statement by six Iraqi rights organizations, as well as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The letter comes as tensions rise in the Kurdistan Region. Protests began in Sulaimani city, started by civil servants who have gone unpaid for much of this year amid budget disputes between the KRG in Erbil and the federal government in Baghdad. Demonstrations have since spread to other towns in the province, as well as in Halabja province and the Garmiyan administration.
Seven protestors and one Peshmerga have reportedly been killed since Monday in clashes.
“Dozens of activists, teachers, and peaceful protesters have participated in protests to demand an end to corruption in the region, the improvement of public services, payment of salaries of employees that were delayed for months, and the implementation of comprehensive reforms. Although some have been released, many remain in detention,” reads the letter, describing the situation in the Kurdistan Region.
“Local authorities have been targeting civil society activists by arresting them for their work and curtailing public freedoms, including media freedom and freedom of peaceful assembly, including since August 2020,” it adds.
Dindar Zebari, the KRG’s Coordinator for International Advocacy, has not responded to Rudaw English’s request for comment on the claims made in the letter.
Mass protests in central and southern Iraq overwhelmingly made up of young people demanding jobs, services, and action against corruption began in October 2019. At least 600 protesters and members of the security forces were killed and more than 18,000 injured in the protests.
The rights group called on the Iraqi authorities to fairly, thoroughly and effectively conduct investigations into the cases of detention that have taken place since the start of the popular protests in October 2019 and the forcible disappearance and unlawful killings of dozens of Iraqi activists, journalists, lawyers, and other civil society members, to release those held arbitrarily.”
