Iraqi forces 'punched, kicked' protesters

Iraqi authorities have failed to investigate accusations Iraqi security forces detained and abused peaceful protestors at a rally on 17 November, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

Security forces reportedly punched and kicked several protestors and took three away to be interrogated, detaining them for about 30 hours.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called for an immediate investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable for "transgressing on the right to peaceful demonstration".

However, despite Abadi's calls, the event having taken place close to all main government buildings, and witnesses being ready to cooperate, no investigating authority has contacted protestors and asked for information, HRW was told by five protestors.

Authorities have also failed to respond to requests for information about the status of the investigation.

'Time and again in Iraq authorities announce an investigation and the abusers continue to operate with impunity.' - Joe Stork, HRW

"Public statements are only as good as their follow-through," said Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East director.

"Time and again in Iraq authorities announce an investigation and the abusers continue to operate with impunity," he added.

Peaceful protests

Activists were holding a weekly protest on 17 November against corruption. They were planning to present a petition to parliament in the Green Zone, a few hundred metres away from where they were gathered.

Approximately 60 protestors had gathered by 11am at the Haider Double restaurant in Maryam Karrada, a Baghdad area adjacent to the Green Zone.

The Green Zone is a heavily secured area that houses government ministries.

HRW reported that vehicles appeared with security guards and surrounded protesters.

Three protesters, Ali Hashim, Husain al-Najjar, and Imad al-Mayahi, were grabbed by masked men and taken away in a car.

There were several dozen security forces according to protestors, of which around half were wearing civilian clothes. Most were reportedly masked with armed pistols, and one of the vehicles had a large maching gun mounted on the back.

The men were wearing black uniforms with insignias reading Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics force, or anti-riot forces.

Several protestors were punched and a captain reportedly told security forces to "shoot at the legs of the protesters if they take one step forward", protesters said.

Three protesters, Ali Hashim, Husain al-Najjar, and Imad al-Mayahi, were grabbed by masked men and taken away in a car.

Other protestors were punched and put into two small buses. They were reportedly driven under military escort before the buses stopped.

The protestors were told not to protest while the country was fighting the Islamic State group. An hour later they were released.

Abduction

They were insulted, slapped and forced to kneel with their foreheads touching the ground.

One of the three abducted said from under his blindfold he saw that they were driven into the Green Zone.

The men were taken into a building where they were insulted, slapped and forced to kneel with their foreheads touching the ground.

One-by-one they were interrogated and asked why they wanted to take over parliament and who was behind them.

One protestors was allowed to remove his blindfold while he went to the bathroom. On his return he saw the brigadier-general who had given orders at the arrest site and at demonstrations the previous Friday. From his voice he recognised that he had been interrogating them.

Those abusing peaceful protesters enjoy effective impunity.

A guard said a member of parliament had arrived and demanded access. The three men were then taken out the back door and driven to al-Faqma ice cream shop several kilometres from the Green Zone where they were released.

They were driven to the ice cream shop in a car that had green defence ministry licence plates with some digits scratched off.

"Those working peacefully to make Iraq a better place face enormous personal risks from criminal gangs, militias, and official security forces," Stork said.

Those abusing peaceful protesters enjoy effective impunity as long as Iraq's judiciary doesn't uphold the rule of law and hold the abusers accountable," he added.

In August 2015, Iraq's parliament unanimously approved an ambitious reform plan that would cut spending and eliminate senior posts, following mass protests against corruption and poor services.

However, a recent petition called "Will Parliament Wake Up From Its Nap?", has asked parliament to enact legislation in line with these anti-corruption reforms.