Iraq’s Deteriorating Human Rights Landscape
In a shocking display of governmental overreach, the Iraqi authorities have intensified their assault on civil liberties, as reported by Human Rights Watch in its World Report 2025. Over the course of 2024, repressive laws targeting freedoms are set to undermine the rights of Iraqis, as noted in the organization’s detailed 546-page review covering over 100 countries.
Opportunities Lost Amidst Repression
Tirana Hassan, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, highlights a troubling global trend: an uptick in wrongful arrests of political dissidents and journalists amid increasing violence from armed groups. In the case of Iraq, Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasizes that instead of pursuing reforms to protect rights, the government is prioritizing legislation that suppresses freedoms and escalates executions.
Amendments Threatening Fundamental Rights
Among the most alarming proposed changes is an amendment to the Personal Status Law, which hands jurisdiction over marriage and inheritance to religious leaders, thus jeopardizing women’s rights. This amendment could legally permit marriages for girls as young as nine, a regressive step that contravenes international human rights standards.
Alarming New Punishments
Recently, Iraq’s parliament passed an amendment enhancing punishments for same-sex relations, imposing potential prison terms of 10 to 15 years. Furthermore, individuals undergoing gender-affirming medical procedures now face 1 to 3 years in prison for simply expressing their identity. The vague definitions around “promoting homosexuality” invite further harassment and persecution.
Unlawful Executions on the Rise
The authorities have alarmingly ramped up executions in 2024, carrying them out without notifying lawyers or family members. This has occurred amidst rising concerns about torture and serious breaches of fair trial rights, raising questions about the justice system’s integrity.
Uncertain Accountability for ISIS Crimes
The closure of the UN Investigative Team (UNITAD) to address crimes by ISIS in Iraq has left many victims and survivors anxious about future accountability. Key issues remain unresolved, such as safeguarding evidence and addressing the needs of displaced people, particularly in terms of returning to their homes and receiving compensation for losses incurred during the conflict.
– Iraqi government intensifies repression through draconian laws in 2024. – Human Rights Watch highlights wrongful arrests and rising violence against dissidents. – Significant amendments threaten women’s rights and impose strict penalties on LGBTQ+ individuals. – Unlawful executions increase without due process, and accountability for ISIS crimes remains uncertain.
Human Rights Watch’s report paints a stark picture of deteriorating rights in Iraq. With the government focusing on repressive legislation rather than embracing reforms, citizens face growing threats to their freedoms and safety. Urgent action is needed to reject damaging laws, halt executions, and ensure accountability for past atrocities.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
