Findings include deliberate killing of unarmed protestors and excessive use of force by security personnel
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), in a report issued on October 22, cites serious human rights violations and abuses committed by Iraqi authorities during the recent wave of protests against government corruption and poor living conditions.
When reached by The Media Line, Samir Ghattas, UNAMI’s spokesperson, refused to comment on the report, which presents evidence indicating the use of excessive force against the protestors by security forces, along with mass arrests and the denial of medical care. The report says 149 Iraqi civilians were killed and more than 400 were injured.
UNAMI conducted 145 interviews with human rights monitors, journalists and activists, as well as with protestors and the relatives of those who died.
“Based on the death toll and the extent, as well as scale, of injuries among the protestors, the interim results of UNAMI suggest that extreme force was used against demonstrators in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq,” the report says.
“The loss of life, serious injuries and harm resulting from the violence during the demonstrations was both tragic and preventable,” said Danielle Bell, chief of the UNAMI Human Rights Office. “Concrete steps to enable peaceful assemblies and protect those participating should be a priority.”
Since October 1, Iraq has witnessed a string of protests over high unemployment, poor public services and government corruption. Protestors blame their poor living conditions on conflicts among political leaders, which they say have prevented things from improving despite the relative calm in the country after the defeat of ISIS two years ago.
Fadel Abu Raghef, an Iraqi security expert, told The Media Line that the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces ordered an investigation into the matter, which “revealed that high-level police officers and army commanders were behind the crimes that were committed during the protests.” He said the issue is now before the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council.
“The current situation in Iraq is very tense, as people are afraid and have started preparing themselves with supplies,” he added, although he disputed the charge that authorities had overreacted during the protests.
“The Iraqi leadership ordered that the first three rows of security services near the protestors be unarmed to prevent a repeat of what happened during earlier protests,” he said.
Ramiz, an Iraqi citizen, spoke to The Media Line on condition that he not be further identified. He said he “doesn’t believe that the Iraqi government is going to hold anyone accountable. It carried out the investigation only to cover its mistakes.”
Ramiz said that Iraqi security forces “disrespected the demonstrators and shot at protestors, who had the right to object to the abnormal situation in Iraq. We lack basic life requirements; we don’t have a transportation network in the country, or electricity. Sometimes we lack food supplies, while the government swims in corruption.”
Tayba al-Tamimi, an Iraqi lawyer and activist based in Baghdad, told The Media Line that the protests came “as a result of an accumulation” of injustices.
“The Iraqi people have suffered over the past 16 years from the rule of religious political parties supported by neighboring countries, especially Iran,” she said. “This has led to the dominance of certain groups over the people and over the country’s resources, while other groups are being destroyed financially and socially. There is rampant corruption. All these factors led to the explosion of the people.”
Tamimi said that “Iraqi citizens are not only claiming their right to basic life requirements, but are demanding a homeland. There is no sovereignty in my country; Iran controls resources and gives orders to senior officers in the Iraqi army.”
She mentioned “neglect of the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors in the country,” which also provoked people from different backgrounds to protest.
“Despite the promises made by the government to improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people, the citizens no longer have trust in a government that has nothing in its hand and is ruled by large political parties,” she said. “The people will not be fooled by the government’s twisted methods of limiting freedom.”
Al-Tamimi added that the “resolve of Iraqis has reached its peak to overthrow the entire regime and abolish the constitution, which they see as having been designed based on the interests of the leaders.” She noted that “all the demonstrators, despite their partisan or religious differences, chanted ‘People want to overthrow the regime!’ ‘Abolish all parties!’ and ‘Iran out!’”
As for the government’s handling of the demonstrations, she said its tactics “violated the Iraqi constitution, which guarantees freedom of peaceful protest, and freedom of speech. Demonstrators were faced with live fire, which killed and injured many dozens. This only made matters worse and has led to a determination to overthrow the government, which is killing its own people solely to hang on to power.”