OUR REPORTS

25-05-2026, 11:31

At Least 400 Detainees Died in Iraqi Prisons in 2025

Iraqi prisons witnessed a dangerous escalation of violations in 2025, with IOHR recording 400 deaths due to torture, medical neglect, and catastrophic overcrowding exceeding 300%. The Observatory confirmed 140 cases were closed without investigation, urging urgent government action, and warning that the absent IHCHR Board of Commissioners fosters impunity.

10-05-2026, 20:37

Iraq Between “Tishreen” and “October 7”: A Collusion to Suppress Freedoms

This investigation examines the reality of freedoms in Iraq, concluding that restriction has begun to emanate from all political actors, as well as institutions that were supposed to be human rights-based and defenders of democratic concepts. The investigation also puts forward the hypothesis that the increase in violations began after the Tishreen (October) protests in the autumn of 2019, but witnessed a sharp escalation after the events of October 7, 2023.

20-04-2026, 11:54

Mandatory Conscription Law: Forced Militarization and Enforced Classism

This statement addresses the IOHR's rejection of the "National Service" bill, viewing it as a move toward societal militarization and a violation of constitutional freedoms. The Observatory warns of economic burdens and class disparity through "exemption fees," asserting that addressing unemployment requires civil development, and demanding the law's withdrawal while prioritizing education to safeguard youth dignity.

12-04-2026, 11:23

Journalism in Iraq: Reporting from the Red Zone

This report documents escalating violations against journalists in Iraq, including the kidnapping of Shelly Kittleson, arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and coverage bans. IOHR criticizes CMC’s administrative restrictions, warning that eroding press freedom and impunity undermine democracy. It calls for urgent legal reforms to protect media workers from systematic repression and intimidation.

6-04-2026, 13:08

CMC Bans Political Commentators and Warns Media Outlets

IOHR warns of a severe decline in freedoms during early 2026, as the CMC transformed into a punitive tool restricting expression through arbitrary bans on journalists and international outlets. This systematic trend, based on vague terminology, violates Article 38 of the Constitution and threatens "Civic Desertification," undermining political and social pluralism throughout the country.

20-03-2026, 03:28

Iraq Under Fire: Sovereignty and Civilian Protection

This report documents the escalation of external military attacks in Iraq, highlighting 85 strikes on security and civilian sites. The IOHR analyzes these operations as violations of national sovereignty, international law, and the Constitution, coinciding with the 2003 war anniversary. It calls for urgent national and international action to halt escalation and protect civilians.

8-03-2026, 10:30

The Systematic Erasure: Excluding Women from Iraq’s Public Sphere

This report examines the reality of women in Iraq and the escalating challenges facing their participation in the public sphere, including digital defamation campaigns and social and legislative pressures. It monitors the impact of these practices on female journalists, activists, and candidates, while analyzing the chasm between the legal framework and the actual protection of women's rights.

11-02-2026, 11:15

Basra: Systematic Erosion of Civic Space and the Rise of "Moral Guardianship"

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) documents a systematic erosion of Basra's civic space due to extremist groups imposing "moral guardianship" via unregulated weapons, mimicking regional hardline models. The report highlights a double standard: suppressing arts while ignoring pollution crises, amid tribal influence that undermines the law, threatening the city's identity with "civic desertification."

26-01-2026, 10:10

Iraq: Suffocating in Silence

The EPP experts argue that the Iraqi state is committing a "crime of systemic negligence." Relying on private generators as a primary power source is a flagrant violation of the Right to Life and Health, as enshrined in Article 33 of the Iraqi Constitution. Iraqis are trapped in a distorted social contract, forced to pay billions only to have their lungs filled with poison. Saadoon adds: "Public health has become a commodity traded in the corrupt market of fuel quotas."