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Iraq
Iraqi protesters run for cover from teargas fired by security forces in al-Khalani square in central Baghdad on November 10, 2019. Photo: Sabah Arar/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqis have once again been cut off from the internet in a government attempt to curb protester communications, dealing a further blow to the Iraqi economy and raising concerns over human rights abuses.
Internet access is currently only available from 8am-4pm.
NetBlocks.org, an international non-partisan group monitoring internet access has been following the situation in Iraq during the protests.
Businesses have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue as a result of the blackouts, according to their November 4 report, with small businesses among the hardest hit.
Iraq’s economy has taken a severe blow since protests began, with the closure of Umm Qasr port in the southern city of Basra, a main entry point for imports from abroad, estimated to have cost Iraq $6 billion.
Netblocks added that the routine internet shutdowns cost Iraqi GDP at least $1 billion in the month of October.
The economy is not the only area of concern, however.
The nationwide internet shutdown has also alarmed human rights organizations as the protester death toll continue to rise.
As death toll mounts by the hour, UN members owe it to every 1 of the 100s of protester killed by sec forces since Oct. 1 in #Iraq to call on Iraq to protect rather than suppress its citizens’ rights to free expression during today's #UPR34 session in GVAhttps://t.co/YsvpaH8l0Z pic.twitter.com/BHiQN2QYdY
— Belkis Wille (@belkiswille) November 11, 2019
Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlighted the internet blackout in Iraq and accused the Iraqi government of “preventing Iraqis and the world from seeing the extent of its deadly response,” in a report published Sunday.
HRW called on the international community to focus on the killing of protesters.
“The rash killing of protestors by Iraqi security forces over the past month should be at the front of diplomats’ minds as they shape their recommendations,” Human Rights Watch stated.
Accurate figures on the number of injured and dead have been difficult to obtain due to the internet crackdown.
The White House released a statement on Sunday describing their concerns about the “continued attacks against protesters in Iraq,” including the restriction of internet access.
Washington wants "the Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfill President (Barham) Saleh's promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections," the statement added.
At least 319 people have died and more than 12,000 have been wounded since protests against corruption, lack of employment, and lack of basic services began in Baghdad on October 1, before spreading to southern Iraqi provinces.
Resuming on October 25, protesters reassembled with renewed vigor, taking control of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square and its surrounding areas to demand a revolution to sweep away political parties that have consolidated power in Iraq since the 2005 elections.
Amid live ammunition and military-grade tear gas canister fire on protesters and claims of activist disappearances, killings and kidnappings, the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) released a list of demands to the Iraqi government on Sunday “following consultations with a wide range of Iraqi parties, actors and authorities.”
UNAMI called on the government to “protect all life”, as well as guaranteeing “the right to peaceful assembly, demonstration and freedom of expression.”
They also urged the Iraqi government to ban the improper use of non-lethal devices and introduce electoral and security sector reforms, alongside a referendum on amendments to the constitution.
In a tweet following UNAMI’s list of demands, NetBlocks criticized UNAMI’s report for not demanding the “restoration of internet access.”
“The UN mission has issued a list of demands to Iraq, none of which include the restoration of internet access,” NetBlocks tweeted on Sunday.
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