Iraq - Latest Publications

IRQ - News

Iraq: Prime Minister and Ministry of Justice Call for Executions of "Terrorists" on Death Row

IRQ - News | 11 July 2016

On Monday 4 July 2016, a day after the two deadly Baghdad bombings, the Iraqi Ministry of Justice announced the implementation of death sentences against five convicts on death row, upon request of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi. New death sentences are soon to be announced said the Ministry of Justice, affirming that it would continue "to deliver just punishment to those whose hands are stained with the blood of Iraqis".

Iraq: Alkarama Calls Upon the UN to Establish a Commission of Inquiry on the Crimes Committed by Iraqi Security Forces and Affiliated Militias in Fallujah

IRQ - News | 23 June 2016

On 23 June 2016, Alkarama wrote to the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, deploring the summary executions, enforced disappearances and torture by the Iraqi military forces and state-sponsored militias – including those belonging to the "People's Mobilisation Unit", an umbrella organisation of about 40 militias under the effective control of the Prime Minister – directed against the civilian population fleeing Fallujah.

Iraq: Disappearance of Three Soldiers Who Escaped from Speicher Military Base Massacre

IRQ - News | 23 June 2016

On 12 June 2014, armed groups affiliated to the 'Islamic State' (IS) took over the Speicher base – a military base and air force training college situated between the cities of Beiji and Tikrit in the Salahuddin province – and executed more than 1500 Iraqi soldiers. Aware that IS was advancing towards the base, several military commanders ordered their subordinates to leave to save their lives.

Iraq: 35-year-old shepherd disappears after arrest by State-backed militia in June 2015

IRQ - News | 20 April 2016

ID photo of Raed Al-Janabi On 9 June 2015, Raed Allawi Hussein Al-Janabi, a 35-year-old shepherd was grazing his sheep near Amiriyat Fallujah – 100 km east of Baghdad – when members of the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia in military uniform took him, without presenting a warrant or explaining the reasons.

Iraq: human rights defenders arrested and tortured for documenting cases of enforced disappearances

IRQ - News | 12 April 2016

ID photos of Imad Amara and Faisal Al Tamimi In March 2016, human rights defenders Imad Amara and Faisal Al Tamimi were arrested and tortured due to their work documenting cases of enforced disappearances in Iraq. Both men were volunteers at the human rights NGO Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, which documents cases of enforced disappearances and together with Alkarama, submits them to the United Nations Human Rights mechanisms.

Iraq - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Ratified on 25.01.1971
Optional Protocol: No

Last State report: 11.10.2013
Last concluding observations: 19.11.1997

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 07.07.2011
Optional Protocol: No
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

Last State report: 30.06.2014
Last concluding observations: 17.09.2015

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

CED: Accessed on 23.11.2010
Art. 33 (Inquiry procedure): Yes

Last State report: 26.06.2014
Last concluding observations: 18.09.2015

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 11.2014 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) – Status B