Human rights defenders targeted amidst ongoing protests

Since anti-corruption demonstrations in Iraq began in early October 2019, human rights defenders have been targeted by the Iraqi authorities and other unknown militant groups. The demonstrations are calling for increased respect for civil and political rights in the country, and an end to corruption and chronic unemployment. The Iraqi authorities and other militant groups have been using excessive force against protesters, resulting in mass killings, arrests, and the disappearance of participants. Human rights defenders in particular have been targeted and several have been forcibly disappeared, detained or killed.

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On 28 October 2019, human rights defender Safaa Al-Saray was killed by the Iraqi authorities during demonstrations at Liberation Square in Baghdad. Safaa Al-Saray was a social media blogger who focused on promoting civil and political rights in Iraq and he had participated in anti-corruption demonstrations in 2011, 2013 and 2015, Safaa Al-Saray was struck on his head by a tear gas cannister shot at him as he participated in demonstrations in Baghdad. He died from his injuries shortly afterwards.

That same day human rights defender Ahmed Muffak was located after going missing for 14 days. He was kidnapped on 12 October 2019 from the streets of Baghdad, by an unknown militant group. Ahmed Muaffak promotes political and economic rights in Iraq and has organised several workshops designed to raise awareness of these issues among the population. He was part of the movement in 2016 that called for economic and social reforms in Iraq. He continues to receive frequent threats of further kidnapping or death.

A day earlier, on 27 October 2019, the Iraqi authorities raided Samer Faraj’s house, and confiscated several of his devices. He was arrested and taken to a local police station in the city of Ramadi. He is accused of ‘inciting civil disobedience’. He has not been permitted visits by his family or lawyer. Samer Faraj is a blogger on social media who promotes political and civil rights in Iraq. He also documents human rights violations in the country. He is a member of ‘Bent Al-Rafedain’, an organisation which promotes women’s rights in Iraq, He has been frequently previously targeted by Iraqi authorities for this work and for his social media posts.

There whereabouts of human rights lawyer Ali Jaseb Hattab remain unknown nearly four weeks after he was abducted by a militant group in the city of Maysan on 8 October. A member of the Advocates for the Protesters Rights Commission, his work consists of advocating for the rights of political prisoners, and against government violations. The human rights defender had previously received several death threats from unknown militant groups, and reported them to the police, though none of these threats were investigated.

Many of the human rights defenders who have been arrested or kidnapped in Iraq have been deprived of their basic right to medical assistance or contact with their families, kept in degrading conditions, and have been physically abused.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned regarding the ongoing disappearances, arrests, killings and other violations faced by human rights defenders in Iraq. Front Line Defenders believes that these human rights violations are solely motivated by the human rights defenders’ peaceful and legitimate activities.