A Letter to:
United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq/ Human Rights – Iraqi Parliament – Iraqi Prime Minister – EU Parliament - Human Rights Watch
Subject:
The conditions of human rights and freedom of expression in Raniya area (Raniya and Qaladza) are in danger.
With power in the hands of the old and new authorities of Kurdistan Region of Iraq, peoples’ lives in the region have reached the most difficult situation. Under the exploitation and shattering of the lives of the people by the Kurdish authority, people are hoping for death and thousands of them have fled to other countries in seeking for a worthier life, despite a dramatic increase in the ratio in the cases of suicide and other various social issues. Additionally, with the crises in the past six years which have been accumulated, the region’s population has suffered multiple catastrophic consequences of failed governance and lessening their freedom with extreme poverty.
People have been pushed into disappointment. There is no salary, the political and lawful institutions are diminished, and market is insecure. Most of the population is in real hardship, children, juveniles and the youths have become the biggest victims of the situation. And under such circumstances, when people and the youths oppose corruption by demonstrating and taking streets, they are silenced, attacked, kidnapped and face many other intimidations and dangers even threat of murder.
For instance, after many years of suffering and demands haven not been responded by the government and the authorities, people, youths, activists and the poor in Raniya in August 10, 2020 took streets to raise their voices of discontent, then the city has been sieged with military and they insulted the discontented people. Many youths and teenagers under the age of fifteen have been halted from any movement in the area and without court decree they arrested many of them in a random way which is against the second and third part of article thirty seven of the Iraqi Constitution. Those arrested youths and teenagers who are about one hundred have been arrested from 12 to 19 of August. In addition, more than 15 people have been injured including journalists. First part of the above mentioned article (37) in the Iraqi Constitution states that every citizen has the right of freedom of expression and discontent. The second part states that no one must be arrested without the arrest warrant from the concerned jurisdiction. But the authority of the KRG has eliminated all meaning for freedom, respect and human dignity. Hence, people have been thrown into a hell and each political party has taken over one part of Kurdistan. Therefore, we call for the help and assistance of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq/ Human Rights – Iraqi Parliament – Iraqi PM – EU Parliament - Human Rights Watch and would seriously intend to inform you about this catastrophic situation. In regards to that, we request the following:
1. To end the military siege by the Peshmarga, Asaish and other military forces; also to end arresting and torturing people and the youths as soon as possible in the whole KRG.
2. The return of the rights and stolen money of the people, youths, employees, teachers and all other exploited people.
3. The primacy of order of law and taking it out from the hands of this corrupt political authority.
4. We ask the Organizations of the Human Rights to send their delegates to Kurdistan in order to closely see the miseries and sufferings of the population under the existing ruling powers in the region.
From: a group of activists, teachers and employees from Iraqi Kurdistan
30-08-2020