Iraq - Country of Concern: latest Update, 31 March 2013
Updated 21 January 2015
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Progress and engagement on human rights issues remained difficult between January and March 2014. The increase in terrorist violence seen since April 2013 continued, with the UN reporting over 2,000 people killed in the last three months. Violence continued to be directed at civilians on an almost daily basis. Targets included government offices, markets and shops.
We were also concerned by increasing violence by extremist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), operating in northern and western Iraq. We were particularly concerned by continuing fighting between Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and ISIL in Anbar where ISIL still control parts of the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. In addition to the loss of life, over 400,000 people are reported to have been displaced by fighting in Anbar. Although the government is putting in place steps to enable those who have been displaced to vote from their current locations in the forthcoming parliamentary election, there is a risk that this displacement may affect voter participation.
Minister for the Middle East, Hugh Robertson, issued a statement expressing concern about developments in Anbar on 6 January, in which he reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to stand alongside the Iraqi government in combating terrorism, but also the need for an inclusive political process. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Fallujah and the deteriorating security situation with the Iraqi Foreign Minister when they spoke on 5 February. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Director for the Middle East led a UK delegation to Baghdad’s first International Counter-Terrorism Conference on 11-13 March, and held meetings with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Foreign Minister Zebari and Deputy Prime Ministers Mutlaq and Shahristani. The UK was clear that, to be effective, efforts to tackle terrorism should build support from local communities and required an effective justice system that respects human rights.
We are also concerned by attacks on candidates and other attempts to disrupt the democratic process in the run-up to parliamentary elections on 30 April. It is essential that elections are free, fair, transparent, and held on time.
A number of people have been executed in the last three months, and we continue to have grave concerns about both Iraq’s increased application of the death penalty, and the lack of transparency around death penalty cases. This included the mass execution of 26 people on 19 January, 11 on 23 January, 6 on 27 February, and a further 7 on 13 March. We raised our serious concerns with the Iraqi government, including when the UK Ambassador Baghdad met the Senior Deputy Minister for the Interior on 22 January.
In February, Human Rights Watch published a report on the treatment of women in Iraqi detention facilities, which claimed that women are routinely raped and tortured. We share HRW’s concerns about this issue, and its assessment that women are often targeted by Iraqi Security Forces in order to harass male relatives. The government of Iraq’s response to the report has been disappointing, with both the Ministry of Human Rights, and the Ministry of Justice, stating that abuse and mistreatment is rare, and only occurs in exceptional cases.
On 25 February, the Council of Ministers approved a sectarian draft Personal Status Law for Shia Iraqis, which had been rejected last year. Many Iraqis from all communities had serious concerns about a draft law that would create inequality between citizens before the law, and would be a step backwards for the rights of women and girls (by applying only to the country’s majority Shia population, the law would exacerbate sectarianism; and its proposals include lowering the minimum age for marriage for girls to nine, legalising marital rape, and preventing a woman from leaving the house without her husband’s permission). We share those concerns and have raised them with Iraq’s Minister of Justice, who had put forward the draft law. The draft is not expected to go forward to parliament, but we continue to monitor this closely.
The Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) met in Geneva on 18 February to consider the fourth and sixth periodic reports for Iraq. The State Minister for Women’s Affairs participated in the Geneva discussions where Iraq submitted its first report to CEDAW in ten years. For the first time since Iraq ratified CEDAW in 1986, Iraqi civil society also presented a “shadow” report: “Iraqi Women in Armed Conflict and Post-Conflict Situation”. CEDAW issued its recommendations on 28 February. While noting the efforts and commitments of Iraq in the face of challenges of political instability, insecurity and violence, CEDAW expressed serious concerns at the persistence of discriminatory laws, the increase of violence against women by state and non-state actors, and a reinforcement of patriarchal attitudes.
On 16 March, the Iraqi Speaker of Parliament banned al-Iraqiya TV staff from entering the Council of Representatives in response to previous coverage of him. We urge Iraq to take all steps to protect journalists and ensure freedom of the media, particularly in the run-up to elections on 30 April.