Who is behind violence in iraq

Almost demonstrators have been killed and 35 activists have died in 82 targeted killings, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights. The perpetrators have yet to be identified but activists and demonstrators pointed to Iran-backed militias. Hundreds demonstrating in Tahrir Square on May 25 had shouted slogans against Iran-backed militias. Muslih was arrested in connection with recent attacks on the Ain al-Asad airbase, where US and other international forces are housed, officials told the Reuters news service.

Meanwhile, with public discontent rising , the government of Prime Minister al-Kadhimi faces national elections that have been delayed from June until October.

Welcome to the United Nations. Toggle navigation Language:. Subscribe Audio Hub. One man had to have his arm amputated because of arterial damage caused by torture in custody.

A Human Rights Watch study of appeals court decisions in terrorism-related cases showed that in close to two dozen cases in and judges appeared to ignore torture allegations or to rely on uncorroborated confessions.

Some of the torture allegations had been substantiated by forensic medical exams, and some of the confessions were apparently extracted by force.

In each of these cases, the trial courts took the torture allegations seriously, found them credible, assessed the evidence, and acquitted the defendants. Despite this, on appeal, the Federal Court of Cassation appeared to ignore torture allegations or to rely on uncorroborated confessions and ordered a retrial.

In addition, US-led coalition and SDF forces transferred at least 47 non-Iraqi foreign males suspected of ISIS affiliation to Iraq for investigation in and early , including at least 11 French nationals who have been sentenced to death. In at least 30 of the cases, US forces facilitated the transfer from SDF to Iraqi custody according to court documents, testimony from defendants, and other sources.

Two of the French citizens transferred from northeast Syria to Iraq and prosecuted in Baghdad for ISIS affiliation told the judge that Iraqi security forces tortured or coerced them into making a confession. Authorities detained criminal suspects in overcrowded and in some cases inhumane conditions. A source within the penitentiary system shared with Human Rights Watch photos of overcrowded prison cells in Nineveh holding women and children on charges of ISIS affiliation in conditions so degrading that they amounted to ill-treatment.

Despite commitments by then-Prime Minister Haidar Abadi in September to investigate allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings, authorities apparently took no steps in to investigate these abuses. Iraqi families perceived to have ISIS affiliation, usually because of family name, tribal affiliation, or area of origin, were often denied security clearances required to obtain identity cards and all other civil documentation.

This restricted their freedom of movement, right to education , and right to work, as well as access to welfare benefits and birth and death certificates needed to inherit property or remarry. Denial of security clearances also blocked such families from making claims to the commissions established in to compensate Iraqis affected by terrorism, military operations, and military errors, and from bringing court cases or challenging seizure of property by security forces or local families.

Some families were able to obtain security clearance if they were willing to first appear before a judge to open a criminal complaint against their relative who was suspected of having joined ISIS in a process known as tabriya. After individuals opened the criminal complaint, the court issued them a document to present to security forces to obtain their security clearance. No group has so far claimed any responsibility for the attack and remains from the explosive-laden drone have been recovered, as part of an on-going investigation.

He urges all political actors to uphold the constitutional order and resolve differences through peaceful and inclusive dialogue. One protester was reportedly killed, and dozens of security personnel were injured.