Iraq: Killings, attempted killings, threats and harassment of several human rights defenders in Basra

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about recent killings, attempted killings, threats and harassment of several human rights defenders in Basra, South East Iraq.

According to the information received, on August 19, 2020, Ms. Riham Yaqoub, a doctor and prominent human rights defender who led women’s marches as part ofthe protest movement in Basra in 2018[1], was killed by two unidentified gunmen on a scooter while she was driving her car in the Basra city centre. At the time of the attack, three other passengers who were in the car were slightly injured from the shattered glass of the car windows. Ms. Yaqoub had been the target of a massive online hate campaign since 2018, and had received numerous threats prior to her killing. An investigation was opened by the police into this attack, but no information could be obtained as to whether perpetrators have been identified.

Similarly, on August 17, 2020, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a car carrying Ms. Lodya Remon Albarti, a human rights defender who led the 2018 feminist demonstration along with Ms. Riham Yaqoub, and Messrs. Fahd Al-Zubaidi and Abbas Subhi, two civil society activists who have been actively participating in the protest movement in Basra since October 2019[2]. As a result of this attack, Ms. Albarti was injured in the leg and Mr. Subhi in the chest. Both were transferred to Basra Teaching Hospital to receive medical care and were subsequently discharged in good health.

On August 14, 2020, Mr. Tahseen Oussamma, an activist who had also actively participated in the protest movement in Basra since October 2019, was killed by unknown attackers with a silenced weapon in Basra. An investigation was opened by the police into this attack, but no information could be obtained as to whether perpetrators have been identified.

In addition, in the last few weeks, numerous Iraqi activists have been receiving daily threats to their life and safety, mostly through text messages or publicly using social media networks.

The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over these attacks which are part of a series of targeted killings in recent weeks against leaders of the protest movement against corruption and in favour of basic rights and dignity for the Iraqi people. Although the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, promised on several occasions to take action to bring those responsible to justice[3], the Observatory notes that, for the time being, this has not been reflected in concrete terms.

In light of the generalised context of killings and acts of violence targeting human rights defenders, and the persisting climate of impunity over such violations, the Observatory calls on the Iraqi authorities to facilitate a transparent, impartial, immediate and thorough international investigation into these events, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal and sanction them as provided by international law.