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| Iraq |
| 56 abducted protesters, activists still missing in Iraq, 490 killed since October: human rights commission |
| 2019-12-29 |
| [Rudaw] Scores of protesters and activists abducted over the course of nationwide protests remain missing, Iraq’s highest human rights body announced on Saturday. A total of 68 protesters have been kidnapped by unknown actors due to their involvement in anti-government protests that began to grip the south and centre of the country on October 1, according to a statement from the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR). “The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights announces that 56 protesters and activists have been kidnapped and are still missing,” the statement reads. “Twelve protesters and activists have been kidnapped, but were released later.” Protesters and activists have previously described campaigns of surveillance, intimidation and abduction by both government forces and unidentified actors since protests began. Though most victims of violence have been male protesters and activists, women, who have been on the frontlines of the protests, have also been subject to disappearances. Among those blamed for kidnappings and disappearances are factions of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi), who are well armed and act with little or no state oversight – despite government measures to reel the group in by integrating them into Iraq’s official security apparatus. By November, Amnesty International reported PMF involvement in at least one abduction - that of a lawyer in the south of the country. Acts of violence by unidentified or masked groups extend beyond disappearances, and include protest massacres. They have contributed to a death toll of over 500 protesters and security force members, according to the UN special envoy to Iraq, with at least 17,000 people wounded since October 1. Government officials confronted on protester killings, kidnaps and disappearances have also responded by blaming ‘third parties.’ Despite repeated announcements of investigations into violence against protesters, the Iraqi government has failed to identify perpetrators, and no arrests have been made. Iraqi rights group says 490 protesters killed since October [AlAhram] The UN has said it received credible allegations of deliberate killings, abductions and arbitrary detentions carried out by unknown armed men described as 'militia, 'unknown third parties' and `armed entities' Iraq's semi-official human rights commission said Saturday at least 490 protesters have been killed in Baghdad and southern cities in nearly three months of anti-government rallies. Iraq has been roiled by protests since Oct. 1 in which demonstrators have taken to the streets to decry corruption, poor services and a lack of jobs. They have also called for an end to the political system imposed after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The mass uprisings prompted the resignation of former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi late last month. The protesters demand an independent candidate to hold the post. The leaderless protests - the most serious challenge for the ruling class in over a decade - were met with a violent crackdown by security forces. They dispersed crowds with live fire, tear gas and sonic bombs, leading to fatalities. Faisal Abdullah, a member of the semi-official Human Rights Commission, said the 490 killed include 33 activists ``assassinated'' in targeted killings. More than 22,000 have been injured. Abdullah said 56 protesters remain missing after reports they were abducted. Another 12 have been released, he said, quoting data recorded by his group, the Iraqi government and a committee looking into abduction linked to the country's Interior Ministry. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 Flypaper for Prgressives. |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2019-12-29 10:11 |
| #1 Darwinism in action? |
| Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2019-12-29 08:09 |