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Kuwait - Latest Press Releases
IRQ - News
Iraq: New reports of torture of Shawki Omar, arbitrarily detained since 2004
IRQ - News | 13 February 2013
After his arrival in Iraq for work, Mr Shawki Ahmed Omar, now 52, Jordanian national with US citizenship, was arrested in October 2004 with his then pregnant wife. He was not only beaten, but also repeatedly tortured by electric shocks and simulations of drowning. To protest against his ongoing arbitrary detention in Karakh Prison and the torture he was recently subjected to, he began a hunger strike on 4 February 2013. Yesterday, 12 February 2013, his family members organized sit-ins in front of the Iraqi Embassies in London and Amman in his support.
His 7-year-old daughter, who was born after Shawki Omar's arrest, participated in the demonstrations to draw attention to the high risk of torture to which he is again exposed.
Iraq: Arab Merchant detained in Al Soussa Prison since 2006
IRQ - News | 06 February 2013
Following the US invasion of Iraq, many Arabs of non-Iraqi origin were arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured between 2003 and 2009 by the US and Iraqi authorities on suspicions of belonging to the 'armed resistance' against the 'US Occupation Forces'. Sentenced to excessive prison terms or the death penalty in expedient trials, this group of non-Iraqi detainees became known as the 'Arab Prisoners'. Rami*, detained since 2006 in Al Soussa Prison, is one of them.
Iraq: Government seriously threatens the independence of judges and lawyers
IRQ - News | 07 November 2012
The Iraqi government must stop meddling in the administration of justice and threatening judges and lawyers. Alkarama denounces the threats made by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, and, in a letter sent on the 6th of November 2012, called upon the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to expose the current state of the Iraqi legal system.
Iraq: Detention of envoy facilitating the repatriation of Libyan prisoners
IRQ - News | 07 November 2012
Opening a new chapter of the issue of Arab prisoners in Iraq , the Iraqi authorities proceeded on 18 October 2012 to arrest the Libyan envoy mandated to negotiate the repatriation of the Libyan detainees in Iraq. After facilitating the release of a number of Libyans in recent months, Mr Ahmed Saleh Al Shami will now depend on similar assistance to regain his liberty. Alkarama therefore today asked the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to request his release.
Iraq: Execution of a Tunisian detainee in Al Rusafa Prison
IRQ - News | 17 September 2012
Iraqi authorities should investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Tunisian detainee Abdullah Al Matoui, assassinated in Al Rusafa Prison, Baghdad.
On 2 August 2012, Abdullah Habib Abdullah Al Matoui, a Tunisian citizen detained in Iraqi prison since 2005 was attacked and killed inside Al Rusafa prison in Baghdad. Having been victim of an assassination inside a prison facility under the responsibility of the Iraqi penitentiary administration, his death indicates a clear failure by the Iraqi government to provide protection to the large number of detainees across the country. Alkarama therefore asks for the Iraqi authorities to carry out an impartial and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Al Matoui's death in view of establishing responsibilities for his assassination of and to prosecute and punish the perpetrators as well as those who failed to protect him from the attack.