Hasan Naiem Abdelhasan Albahadly
Hasan Albahadly is a prominent human rights activist in the Al Kahla District, Maysan Governorate. Hasan Albahadly has launched many advocacy and awareness campaigns regarding human rights issues in Al Kahla District, and has also monitored, documented and participated in many protests there. He worked as a health assistant in the Maysan Health Department, however he was shot due to activism, which left him paralyzed.
Iraqi human rights defenders are subjected to assassination, abduction, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance. Iraq is considered an extremely dangerous country for human rights defenders, particularly with the ubiquity of armed groups who pose additional threats to obstruct their work.
Women human rights defenders have been subjected to smear campaigns on social media due to their participation in protests and have been specifically targeted for abduction and killing, particularly in the southern city of Basra.
Despite the appointment of a new government by the Iraqi Parliament in May 2020 in response to the protests, the administration has failed to protect human rights defenders. Several were assassinated in following months. Peaceful demonstrations continue, with human rights defenders putting their lives at risk to demand real change.
