Press Releases

1-06-2026, 11:47

CRF Assessment: Restricting Weapons to the State in Iraq

About the Council: The Council of Rights and Freedoms (CRF) was formed on May 16, 2026, as an initiative by the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), with the participation of more than 100 civil society organizations, alongside a number of human rights defenders, activists, legal experts, and media professionals. The Council aims to strengthen the system of rights and freedoms in Iraq, monitor violations, support the rule of law, defend fundamental freedoms, and work toward building a national environment based on justice and accountability, thereby consolidating the values of democracy, human rights, and the independence of institutions, among other related objectives.

12-03-2026, 14:56

Iraqi Civilians Must Be Neutralized from Regional Conflict

This statement addresses the escalating risks facing Iraqi civilians due to regional tensions and urban militarization, documenting incidents of drone crashes and explosions in residential weapons depots, such as the Wasit tragedy. IOHR urges the Iraqi government to neutralize populations from armed conflicts, ensure protection under International Humanitarian Law, and conduct transparent investigations to ensure accountability.

15-02-2026, 10:50

Dhi Qar: Books on Trial

This statement addresses the suppression of cultural freedoms in Dhi Qar. IOHR documented the arbitrary arrest of activist Ayman Ammar and the cancellation of the "Nasiriyah Taqra" festival over book contents. We consider this security encroachment a constitutional violation and demand the immediate release of detainees and an end to the crackdown on civil initiatives.

31-01-2026, 13:59

IRAQ’S PRISONS: TICKING TIME BOMBS

According to IOHR monitoring teams, Mustafa Saadoon, Chairman of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), stated: "The success of the transfer process for detainees arriving from Syria depends fundamentally on the prison system's capacity to absorb them through modern isolation and classification mechanisms. IOHR sees an urgent need to adopt a strategy of total 'geographical and technical separation' to ensure these numbers do not destabilize the balances within already overcrowded prisons."

3-12-2025, 22:39

Statement by the Coalition for the Defense of Freedom of Expression on the State of Freedoms in Iraq

Over the past months, our Coalition has observed with deep concern an increasing reliance on laws inherited from previous eras, particularly provisions of the Penal Code enacted during the regime of Saddam Hussein, which are now being used as tools to pursue activists, journalists, content creators, and citizens expressing their opinions. These provisions, originally designed to suppress and intimidate society, must not be employed in today’s Iraq—an Iraq that believes in the Constitution, justice, and fundamental rights.

27-10-2025, 21:02

OHR Condemns Russian Ambassador's Statements on Recruitment for War

The IOHR urged the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a clear and public condemnation of the Ambassador's statements, reaffirming Iraq's rejection of any foreign recruitment of its citizens. The organization also called for the immediate summoning of the Russian Ambassador to demand an official clarification and for a parliamentary and judicial investigation into any possible networks or intermediaries facilitating the recruitment of Iraqis under the guise of employment.

23-09-2025, 11:44

Iraqi Election Candidates Exploit Poverty in Degrading Campaign Practices

IOHR further calls on all political forces to assume their legal and ethical responsibilities by instructing their candidates to adopt democratic and humane approaches in engaging with voters, and to prohibit any practices that exploit poverty or expose citizens’ identities for political purposes. The Observatory also urges media outlets to refrain from broadcasting or promoting such exploitative content, and reminds them of their professional responsibility to uphold the dignity of citizens. At the same time, IOHR calls on Iraqi voters to reject these degrading methods, to report instances of exploitation or humiliation, and to assert their right to free and independent choice without material inducements or coercion.

17-09-2025, 10:45

Parliament Must Uphold the Right to Information, Not Erode It

Although the law addresses the core relationship between the state and society, its drafting was not built on broad consultations with civil society organizations, journalists’ unions, or academics. Enacting a law of this magnitude without genuine participation undermines its legitimacy and raises fears that it will serve as a formalistic tool rather than a genuine instrument to promote transparency.

2-08-2025, 11:33

Iraqi CoR Must Not Lead Iraq into a New Era of Dictatorship

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) expresses deep concern over the Iraqi Council of Representatives’ decision to include the draft Law on "Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly" on the agenda of today's session, in preparation for a potential vote. IOHR affirms that passing the law in its current form would represent a serious regression from Iraq’s constitutional obligations and a flagrant violation of international human rights standards to which Iraq is legally bound through treaties and conventions.