Iraq vows to investigate killing and kidnapping of protesters
Iraq said yesterday that it will investigate the killing and kidnapping of hundreds of protesters.
The announcement followed a report on Saturday by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq that claimed hundreds of Iraqis were killed and dozens had disappeared, with many abducted, assaulted and tortured during civil unrest that began in October last year.
“The Iraqi government confirms its commitment to human rights and international conventions. The government renews its support for an impartial and independent investigation to all the events mentioned in the report,” said the office of Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi
Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in Baghdad and southern Iraq to protest against corruption, unemployment, poor living standards and foreign interference. The mostly young protesters accused the political establishment of rampant corruption and demanded an end to a political system that is divided along sectarian and ethnic lines.
Their actions forced prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to resign in November. Mr Al Kadhimi was confirmed as his successor this month.
The UN said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and injuries to 7,783 others at demonstration sites.
The international body said it received 154 allegations of missing protesters and human rights activists “who were presumed to have been abducted or detained”. It said it had verified 99 cases involving 123 missing persons. Of those, the government knew the whereabouts of 98, but said 25 were missing or of unknown status.
At least 28 protesters were “abducted in circumstances indicating that the perpetrators may be armed actors commonly referred to as ‘militia’”, the report said.
About 33 people were arrested and detained by Iraqi security forces and did not or could not contact their families while detained, and 37 people declined to share details about their cases, the report said. Those interviewed said they were forced into vehicles by armed or masked men.