Female human rights defender Saba Al Mahdawi subjected to reprisals after providing medical assistance to anti-government protestors
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November 14, 2019
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January 20, 2023
Saba Al Mahdawi is a volunteer medic and woman human rights defender who had been volunteering at the anti-corruption demonstrations, which initially began on October 1, 2019. According to Front Line Defenders, she was helping provide food and water to the protesters, and offered medical assistance to those who were injured. She had also been collecting donations for medicines, and assisting those with severe injuries so they could be transferred abroad for medical attention.
Abdallah Al Taei disappeared since 2016 arrest by Iraqi security forces
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October 29, 2019
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January 20, 2023
On February 8, 2016 Al Taei was travelling from Baghdad to Al Ramad, while in contact with his family. However, after arriving at Bzebiz Bus Station, Al Taei took a taxi in the direction of Al Ramadi and later informed his family that he was at the Bzebiz checkpoint. Suddenly, shortly after noon, all contact between Al Taei and his family stopped.
Young Iraqi taxi driver ‘disappeared’ from his home by the Iraqi military
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October 29, 2019
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January 20, 2023
Yasser Al Abadi was an Iraqi teenager when he was arrested and disappeared on July 2, 2014. At around 1 am, Al Abadi’s home was raided by members of the intelligence unit of Iraqi Army Division No. 17, accompanied by an informant. During the raid, soldiers broke doors and windows and fired shots through the walls of Al Abadi’s bedroom before they entered. Al Abadi was severely beaten during the incident and was given no reason for the arrest. That night, the same unit arrested 15 other people living in the Al Mazraa neighbourhood.
Iraqi doctor Maytham Al Hilo disappeared since arrest in Baghdad on October 7, 2019
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October 28, 2019
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January 20, 2023
Al Hilo was last seen on October 7, 2019 leaving his clinic in Baghdad. His family believes that he was abducted by members of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) between his workplace and the place where he parked his car, and were also informed that this incident was intended to “truly scare him”. Local authorities have not acknowledged Al Hilo’s arrest or his whereabouts to date. However, authorities were informally informed that he may be currently detained at the National Security headquarter in Baghdad.
Human rights lawyer Ali Jaseb Hattab Al Heliji disappeared since arrest in Amarah on October 8, 2019
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October 23, 2019
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April 22, 2021
Ali Jaseb Hattab Al Heliji is a human rights lawyer representing demonstrators arrested in connection with the recent anti-government demonstrations. On October 1, 2019, protests started in Baghdad and southern cities calling for improved services and more action to curb corruption. The demonstrations were met by excessive and unnecessary lethal force by Iraqi security forces and have resulted in a hundred people killed and about 4000 injured.
Student missing since his 2013 arrest by Iraqi soldiers
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September 05, 2019
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October 29, 2019
On December 24, 2013, Al Ghariri, a 19-year-old student from Latifiya, left his home at 12 p.m., as he would usually do, and headed towards his school. He was arrested near his house by officers from the 17th Division of the Iraqi Army, who were on patrol at the time. On the same day, Al Ghariri’s mother inquired about his fate and whereabouts at the 17th Division’s branch in Mahmoudiyah, giving them his full name. The guards confirmed that he was being held at this location. They then asked Al Ghariri’s mother to come back later in the afternoon and bring clothes and food for him.
Faez Al Nuaimi disappeared since 2004 arrest by U.S. army during the battle of Fallujah
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September 04, 2019
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May 18, 2020
On November 9, 2004, Al Nuaimi travelled by foot from his home toward Fallujah’s industrial neighbourhood to buy some goods for his home. This was during the Second Battle of Fallujah, a joint U.S., British and Iraqi offensive that took place between November 7 and December 23, 2004, against the Iraqi insurgency in Fallujah. According to his neighbours, who witnessed the events, Al Nuaimi was shot and injured by U.S. soldiers who suspected that he belonged the insurgency. They then forced him to go with them to an unknown location.
Two brothers disappeared since arrest in Diyala in 2015
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August 20, 2019
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January 20, 2023
At around 1.30 a.m. on January 16, 2015, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) wearing black uniforms raided Ahmed Al Obaidi’s home in Baqubah before arresting him along with his brother Akram Al Obaidi. They were forced into official vehicles and taken to an unknown location. The arrest was witnessed by the neighbours.
The SWAT forces operate under the authority of the ministry of Interior.
Four Iraqi students remain disappeared since arrests at Ishaqi refugee camp in 2015
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August 20, 2019
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January 20, 2023
On June 22, 2015, in the context of the fight against ISIL, the Khodeir and Daham families fled from Al Farhatah in Iraq’s Saladin governorate to seek refuge at Ishaqi camp.
On October 13, 2015, the Khodeir brothers and Naeem Daham were arrested inside the camp. That very same day, around 70 other inhabitants of Ishaqi Camp were also arrested in similar circumstances during a campaign of mass arrests conducted by the Saraya Al Salam militia, which controls the camp. They were all taken to an unknown location.
Hazim Mohammed Brism Al Obaidi disappeared since 2014 arrest by Iraqi security forces
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August 07, 2019
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January 20, 2023
On November 9, 2014 at around 8 p.m., four members of Iraqi security forces wearing military uniforms and driving a Nissan pickup truck – a vehicle typically used by Iraqi security forces –raided Hazim Al Obaidi’s house in Baqubah. During the raid, they handcuffed and arrested Hazim Al Obaidi and took him to an unknown location. The arrest was recorded by the cameras of businesses located nearby the house. His fate and whereabouts remain unknown to date.
