Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) condemned Iraqi security’s use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, which reveals the Iraqi authorities’ disregard for the lives of citizens.
The organization stated that at least three people were killed, and dozens were wounded, due to the security forces’ use of live bullets to disperse thousands of demonstrators who gathered in Baghdad’s main squares on Tuesday, May 25, to protest against the security policies and the performance of the current government.
These demonstrations were joined by thousands of demonstrators from different provinces holding the banner “Who killed me?!”.
The demonstrations were primarily demanding accountability for the perpetrators of killings of activists who went unpunished as the Iraqi government did not investigate these crimes, despite making promises to do so.
The Tuesday demonstrations are part of the popular demonstrations, which erupted in Iraq in October 2019 to demand social justice and the end of corruption.
Since the beginning of those demonstrations, more than 70 activists have been assassinated or were subject to assassination attempts, while dozens have been kidnapped for short periods.
At the governmental level, AOHR UK condemned the weak official response, which supports impunity for the perpetrators, as the regime keeps hindering the achievement of justice by giving promises to open investigations into crimes and violations of the security authorities, but without achieving actual and tangible results on the ground.
On the other hand, it tries to avoid taking responsibility, by blaming unknown parties, as it claimed to arrest “4 infiltrators carrying weapons near Tahrir Square in central Baghdad”.
These statements indicate the regime’s intention to cover up for the real perpetrators.
AOHR UK called on the international community to intervene to find drastic solutions to end the vicious crimes the Iraqi people have suffered for years.
AOHR UK stressed that ensuring that Iraqis have their right to life, assembly and peaceful expression protected is a moral responsibility on all governments of the world.
