Call for Justice in the Wake of Anti-Government Protests in Iraq Amnesty International has called on the Iraqi authorities to ensure truth, justice, and reparations for the killing and maiming of protesters by security forces during the nation-wide anti-government protests that began in October 2019. The human rights organization has […]
Tag: Iraq
Iraq: Seeking Justice and Redress for Torture Survivors
Iraq: Torture Survivors Await US Redress, Accountability No Clear Path to Compensation for Iraqis Abused in Detention by US Forces The United States government has apparently failed to provide compensation or other redress to Iraqis who suffered torture and other abuse by US forces at Abu Ghraib and other US-run […]
When Will Iraq’s Security Forces Prioritize Peaceful Protests?
Iraq: Security Forces Open Fire on Kirkuk Protesters Mounting Ethnic Tensions in Disputed Territory By | September 8, 2023 Introduction The city of Kirkuk in Iraq has once again become the site of violence as security forces opened fire on demonstrators on September 2, 2023, resulting in the deaths of […]
Iraq’s Desperate Plea for the Release of a Kidnapped Scholar
Latest Abduction in Pattern of Enforced Disappearances Amnesty International, along with three other human rights organizations, has called on the Iraqi government to ensure the immediate release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a US-based scholar who was kidnapped in Iraq on March 21, 2023. Tsurkov, a dual Russian and Israeli citizen, was […]
Why Iraq Must Abandon the Discriminatory Anti-LGBT Bill
Iraq: Scrap Anti-LGBT Bill Death Penalty for Same-Sex Conduct; Imprisonment for Transgender Expression Introduction The Iraqi government is currently considering a proposed law that would impose the death penalty for same-sex conduct and imprisonment for transgender expression. Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate withdrawal of the bill, stating […]
Iraq’s Media Ban on “Homosexuality” and “Gender” Must Be Reversed Immediately
The Dire Consequences of Iraq‘s Media Ban on Homosexuality An Attack on Freedom of Expression and Human Rights Amnesty International has recently condemned the directive issued by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) which mandates that media outlets replace the term “homosexuality” with “sexual deviance” in their published and […]
Iraq’s Draft Laws: Undermining Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly
The Threat to Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly in Iraq The Iraqi government’s reintroduction of two draft laws to Parliament has sparked concerns about the erosion of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the country. Amnesty International and the INSM Foundation for Digital Rights in Iraq have raised […]
LGBT Rights in the Middle East: A Setback in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
LGBT Rights Group Shuttered in Kurdistan Region of Iraq Background In a troubling development for the promotion of LGBT rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), a court ordered the closure of Rasan Organization on May 31, 2023. Rasan is the sole human rights organization in the region that […]
Sinjar Reconstruction Stymied by Political Fights in Iraq
Political Dispute Hinders Reconstruction in Sinjar, Iraq Human Rights Watch reported that the reconstruction of the Sinjar district in northern Iraq, which suffered significant damage due to the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), has been delayed by the political dispute over the administration of the territory. Prime Minister Mohammed […]
Outcry for Iraq to reveal fate of 643 men and boys abducted by government-linked militias
Amnesty International Calls for Accountability in Iraq for Enforced Disappearances Amnesty International has called on Iraqi authorities to take concrete action regarding the fate and whereabouts of the 643 men and boys who were abducted by the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in June 2016. The PMU is an established militia […]