SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Twenty-eight countries including the U.S. and UK urged Iraq to intensify efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for violence against protesters.
On behalf of 28 countries, Dutch ambassador Monique van Daalen delivered a joint statement on human rights situation in Iraq to the United Nations on Tuesday.
The countries said the federal government had made “a clear commitment” to hold perpetrators accountable for violence occurred during protests in 2019, which led to the death of at least 487 protesters.
“While acknowledging the complex environment with armed actors operating outside of state control, we note that progress has been limited so far,” they said.
“We therefore urge the Iraqi government to renew its commitment and further intensify its current efforts for accountability, in conformity with international standards of fair trial and due process,” they added.
The countries included the U.S., Australia, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
They also expressed concern about attacks against protesters, activists and journalists as well as electoral candidates.
“We are very concerned about recent reports of increased intimidation and targeted attacks, including against protestors, human rights defenders, journalists, media workers and electoral candidates,” the joint statement read.
“The government of Iraq needs to enhance its efforts to create a safe public environment for all Iraqis,” it stated.
More than 30 activists have died in targeted killings and dozens of others abducted, some detained briefly, since October 2019.
Iraqi Premier Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who took office in May 2020, has pledged justice for activists killed or abused by armed groups, and has faced off against some Iran-backed parties.
But the formation of nearly 35 committees by the new government to tackle the challenges, including pursuing those responsible for protesters’ deaths, has resulted in no prosecutions so far.
Kadhimi has placed himself publicly in opposition to Iran-backed militias and parties, and recent arrest of Qasim Muslih, commander of Hashid al-Shaabi in Anbar, was a major attempt to rein in their power.
It echoed another attempt to bring Iran-backed militias under control, when in June last year Kadhimi ordered the arrest of militants alleged to have fired rockets at U.S. targets.
Authorities released Muslih on June 9, two weeks after he was detained over the murder of activists Ihab al-Wazni and Fahim al-Taie.
