Karar Adel Hussain Alzibidy
Karar Alzibidy was a lawyer and human rights activist. He was a prominent defender of the rights of detainees arrested by authorities in Maysan Governorate, which included human rights activists and journalists. He was also one of the leading voices demanding justice for the killing of human rights defender Majeed Al Dahami. He received many death threats from militant groups during his participation in the 2019 Tishreen protests. Following these threats, Karar Adel was fatally shot by a group armed persons on 10 March 2020 whilst he was travelling home.
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.
