The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has been documenting the human rights situation in Iraq over the past five years since the start of the popular uprising in October 2019. This documentation includes 37 periodic reports detailing the serious violations occurring in the country. These reports can be accessed here.

The 37th periodic report addresses various types of violations, including serious human rights abuses witnessed in Iraq during the past five months. These include numerous targeted attacks at various levels against professionals, journalists and activists, as well as arbitrary arrests and restrictions on the public freedoms of all citizens.

Domestic violence against women worsens

Official statistics confirm that many women and children have fallen victim to violence in recent years. A report published by the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) on 18 March 2026, stated that, “Compared to the 2024 statistics attributed to the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior, the current figures show a terrifying surge in violence rates. While the Ministry recorded 14,000 cases last year, the number jumped to more than 36,000 in 2025. This increase of over 150% in just one year is a dangerous indicator of the worsening of domestic violence.”

Despite the extreme gravity reflected in these statistics, the authorities have not taken any serious measures to protect women and children from the violence that frequently targets them, nor have they done anything concrete to address the proliferation of weapons often used against them and innocent civilians. These recurring tragic incidents necessitate the swift passage of an effective law to stop domestic violence, including gender-based violence, by prosecuting perpetrators and providing genuine legal protection for children and women.

Lawyer killed in act of gender-based violence

On 06 April 2026, in the latest incident of violence against women, lawyer Noor Saud Al-Hamdani was killed by her father in the Hamdan area of ​​Abu Al-Khasib district in Basra Governorate. Her father, a retired officer, used a Kalashnikov rifle to shoot her following a family dispute. He then turned himself in to a police station. The victim was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. She was married to another lawyer and was the mother of two daughters.

Iraqi Government fails to protect women human rights defenders

The results of the ongoing investigation into the assassination of prominent human rights defender and head of the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Yanar Mohammed, remain unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

On 05 March 2026, GCHR, in conjunction with local and international human rights partners, issued a joint appeal to the Iraqi authorities, calling for “an immediate, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation to identify the perpetrators and those who may have ordered the assassination, and to bring them to justice in accordance with international standards. The authorities must also take effective protection measures for human rights defenders, particularly women’s rights workers, who face increasing risks.”

There is no doubt that the failure of the security services to arrest the perpetrators reflects a governmental shortcoming in providing the necessary protection for women human rights defenders as they carry out their peaceful and legitimate work, thus exposing them to double the dangers as women who defend human rights.

Armed group threatens everyone for expressing their opinions

In the absence of a functioning state with strong institutions and genuine citizenship, on 28 February 2026, an armed group calling itself “The Lone Lions” issued a statement which circulated on social media networks. The group threatened to target anyone expressing opinions that do not align with what it considers red lines. This clearly reflects the state’s suppression of the civil and human rights of anyone who disagrees with the authorities. This is a blatant violation of Article 38 of the Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates that the state protects freedom of expression by all means.

NRT TV offices raided

On 04 April 2026, a security force affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) raided the Erbil office of NRT satellite TV, shutting it down and confiscating all its equipment. Simultaneously, another KDP force raided the channel’s Duhok office, closing it and confiscating its equipment as well. These actions were carried out without a court order, and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Culture stated that it was unaware of the security forces’ actions in Erbil and had not received any official notification regarding the matter.

Nasiriyah Reads Festival banned

The preparatory committee for the Nasiriyah Reads Festival announced in a statement issued on 13 February 2026, that the Dhi Qar Governorate Police Command had issued a decision prohibiting the festival, which was scheduled to open that same day on the city’s corniche. Security officials cited security concerns and fears of “infiltrators” as the reasons for the ban, in addition to objections to the titles of some books.

The festival’s organising committee had obtained all necessary security and administrative approvals, in compliance with applicable laws and in cooperation with relevant official bodies. They had collected approximately 5,000 books, including 1,000 donated by citizens of Baghdad, for free distribution to the public during the festival. Four months of continuous planning, coordination, and book collection were brought to an end by an unjust decision from the police command, despite Nasiriyah being the rightful and direct heir to Sumerian civilisation, encompassing the ancient Sumerian capital of Ur and Eridu, one of the earliest cities in history.

On the previous day, 12 February 2026, a shipment of 1,000 books, arriving from Baghdad, was stopped at a checkpoint at the entrance to Nasiriyah. Upon inspection, a book containing images of the former dictator Saddam Hussein was found. The books were confiscated, and the truck driver was arrested by security forces. When the festival’s director, Ayman Ammar, a young political activist and engineer, attempted to resolve the matter peacefully, he too was arrested. He was not released until 15 February 2026.

Undoubtedly, the local authorities could have confiscated the banned titles, if any existed, but GCHR considers that their decision to cancel the festival was wrong and inconsistent with their constitutional duty to protect public freedoms and promote culture among citizens. The decision was widely condemned by writers, intellectuals, and civil society activists both within and outside the province.

The festival organisers announced on the Nasiriyah Reads Instagram page their intention to hold the festival on 17 April 2026.

Metro Center releases its 15^th annual report

On 17 January 2026, the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy released its 15th Annual Report on the state of press freedom in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during 2025. The report, titled “An Environment of Impunity and Justice Threatens Press Freedom,” documented 315 violations against 252 journalists and media outlets in the region. These included one shooting incident targeting journalists, one assassination carried out using a drone, and 52 arrest warrants issued against journalists.

Two accused of kidnapping civil society activist released

On 12 January 2026, the Dhi Qar Criminal Court ordered the release of the two men accused of kidnapping civil society activist Sajjad Al-Iraqi (Al-Mushrifawi). They are Ahmed Mohamed Al-Ibrahimi and Idris Kridi Al-Hassari, against whom the same court had previously issued a death sentence in absentia on 16 March 2023, after convicting them of kidnapping him, without any details at the time about the armed groups involved in the operation. They subsequently surrendered to the competent authorities after an international arrest warrant was issued against them. The court then retried them in person and decided to release them due to insufficient evidence. 

Following this decision, Al-Iraqi’s mother questioned in televised statements how a witness could be allowed to retract his original testimony after six years, especially after he had previously confirmed it several times before security and judicial authorities and committees. She also stated that despite the existence of three other witnesses and ample evidence, the judiciary, including the court and its judges, had shown sympathy for the kidnappers in its decision.

On 19 September 2020, Al-Iraqi was abducted by seven armed men in two white Toyota pickup trucks with no license plates in the Al-Azirj area on the outskirts of Nasiriyah.

The decision to release the two men shocked his colleagues and civil society organisations, reflecting a systematic pattern of impunity and lack of accountability in the country since the start of the October 2019 popular protests.

On 31 July 2023, the Federal Court of Cassation issued its ruling, published on its Facebook page, overturning the death sentence issued by the Central Criminal Court against the man convicted of murdering the prominent journalist and security expert, Dr. Hisham Al-Hashimi.

The city of Nasiriyah witnessed the “Zaytoun Bridge” massacre between 28-30 November 2019, in which 32 peaceful protesters were killed, and more than 220 others were injured when security forces used live ammunition to disperse demonstrations in Al-Haboubi Square in the city centre and surrounding areas. The forces then advanced to reopen the Zaytoun Bridge, which had been closed by the protesters. This occurred one day after the Iraqi government formed a crisis cell headed by Lieutenant General Jamil Al-Shammari, who was quickly dismissed following the brutal crackdown by forces under his command against protesters in the city centre.

GCHR documented the Zaytoun (Olive) Bridge massacre in. On 14 August 2024, the Federal Court of Cassation decided to release Rapid Intervention Forces officer Omar Nizar, after a previous ruling on 25 June 2023, sentencing him to life imprisonment for his role in the massacre at the Zaytoun Bridge.

Furthermore, the families of hundreds who lost their lives during the October popular uprising have not been able to obtain justice, as the perpetrators of their murders remain free, some holding high-ranking positions in the Iraqi government.

2025 Parliamentary elections

On 17 November 2025, the Independent High Electoral Commission announced the final results of the 2025 Iraqi parliamentary elections, with the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by then-Prime Minister Mohammed Shabaa Al-Sudani, winning 46 seats in the new 329-seat parliament.

Prior to this, on 13 November 2025, the Alliance of National Networks and Organisations announced the results of its monitoring of these elections. The accompanying report included several serious observations about the electoral process, foremost among them the “chaos of spending” that turned the elections into a “financial marketplace” rather than a “political contest,” as the report described it. Furthermore, the report addressed the use of state resources and its capacity to establish projects and appoint citizens to jobs as tools for electoral gain, thus compromising the state’s neutrality. The report also noted that “7.8 million eligible voters chose to remain outside the biometric registry,” which, according to the report, indicates that the public “doubts the ballot box’s ability to effect change.” The report also pointed to “the use of appeals as a tool for exclusion and settling political scores, which undermined the legal stability of the results.”

Authorities continue targeting various independent activists

As documented in the numerous cases below, journalists, media professionals, human rights defenders, and other activists in Iraq operate in a hostile environment that stifles human rights work, free journalism, and independent political activity. Influential figures, politicians, and armed groups work to silence all dissenting, critical, and anti-corruption voices through various means, including using security forces to carry out arbitrary arrests on charges related to publishing, and then using the judiciary to issue prison sentences.

The failure of the judicial system is evident in the sheer number of cases that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of activists, while the perpetrators remain free and are even promoted to higher positions.

Freedom of expression also faces enormous institutional obstacles and threats, including death, from armed groups. In addition, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) periodically issues unjust decisions to suspend programmes and ban media figures from appearing on television, allegedly for violating the CMC’s broadcasting regulations and professional standards. This is clearly evident in the series of decisions the CMC issued on 29 March 2026.

GCHR had documented in its 36^th Periodic Report that the CMC violated freedom of expression on the Internet when it asked Meta Company to restrict access to some Facebook posts on the pretext that they violated local law, simply because they were posts opposing the authorities’ policies.

Civil society activist released

On 06 April 2026, civil society activist Alaa Mohammed Al-Tamimi (Abu Alaa Al-Ramahi) posted a video on his Facebook page from outside the Basra Court of Appeals Presidency, accompanied by his legal team and several colleagues. In the video, he announced that the court had ruled in his favour for the sixth time in a row, in one of 17 lawsuits filed against him by the Basra Governorate Health Department, which had ultimately failed. He also thanked everyone who had shown him solidarity and captioned the video, “The Supreme Judiciary upholds freedom of expression and vindicates free voices.”

On 09 September 2025, security forces arrested him from his home in downtown Basra following a complaint filed against him by the Basra Governorate Health Department’s Director. That same day, his fellow civil society activists held a solidarity vigil in front of his home, demanding his immediate release. On 10 September 2025, he was released on bail of 5 million Iraqi dinars.

Al-Tamimi uses his Facebook page to address citizens’ concerns and criticize the poor state of public services, particularly in the health sector. On 29 March 2026, a citizen bitterly commented in a video he posted about the shortage of tetanus shots in Basra’s public hospitals and pharmacies.

Media figure assaulted

On 06 April 2025, media figure Minas Al-Suhail, an Al-Sharqiya Satellite TV correspondent, was physically and verbally assaulted inside the Mall of Iraq, located in the Al-Dora district of Baghdad, while covering a ceremony honouring the national football team after their qualification for the World Cup finals.

He posted a video on his Facebook page documenting the assault by security personnel inside the mall. He also appeared in another recording, widely circulated on social media, in which he explained that he was performing his journalistic duties when he was attacked by mall security personnel and that he had received threats from the mall owner himself, according to his statement. He added that he sustained bruises to his head, hand, and body as a result of the assault, as documented in the medical report. He also confirmed that he had filed a legal complaint against the mall owner and his security personnel regarding the assault.

Al-Suhail, 42, was known for presenting the Express programme on Al Sharqiya TV, which focused on stories about the lives of expatriate Iraqis in European countries, before moving on to present talk shows and service-oriented programs.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped

On 31 March 2026, American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in broad daylight on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad by an armed group who forced her into a vehicle.

Security forces pursued the kidnappers’ vehicle, which headed towards Babil Governorate, southwest of Baghdad. There, their vehicle was involved in a traffic accident, and Kittleson was transferred to a second vehicle that then fled. One of the kidnappers was apprehended.

On 07 April 2026, the armed group released her on the condition that she leave the country immediately. They released a video in which she spoke about her journalistic work, appearing distressed and unwell.

Kittleson is a freelance journalist based in Rome, known for her on-the-ground reporting in conflict zones such as Iraq and Syria. Her work has been published in outlets such as Monitor, BBC, and other international media organisations. She had received kidnapping threats from outlawed armed groups prior to her abduction.

A large number of Western journalists left the country after her kidnapping due to the authorities’ failure to protect journalists from being targeted.

Tragedy befalls family of civil society activist

On 30 March 2026, the father of civil society activist Yassin bin Majid passed away in the hospital after suffering a stroke. His suffering had been ongoing for several months since his son Yassin was imprisoned on 25 September 2026 and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of defamation.

His case stemmed from social media posts and recordings in which he sharply criticised politicians for their failure to establish a state based on institutions and genuine citizenship. He was arrested by the intelligence services after a raid on his home in Baghdad, despite his case being a matter of publication and freedom of expression.

The day after his father’s death, his brother, Ahmed Majid, issued an appeal on behalf of the family to all officials, urging them to release him. He explained that their father had passed away without seeing him, and their mother was hospitalised, all due to the unjust targeting of their son.

Yassin bin Majid participated in the popular movement in October 2019, using social media to publish content that frankly and courageously addressed the rampant corruption and the politicians’ failure to build a prosperous nation for all.

Journalist targeted for covering corruption issues

On 09 March 2026, journalist and UTV Satellite Channel correspondent in Najaf, Hussam Al-Kaabi, posted a video on his Facebook page detailing the judicial targeting he was facing for his journalistic work covering corruption issues.

Among his remarks, he said, “I just left the Najaf Investigation Court after being there from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM.” He also addressed his message to the judiciary, politicians, the public, and others, stating, “This is my journalistic work, which is protected by the constitution. In publishing cases, the Journalists Syndicate must be notified first. Intimidation and threats will not work on me.” He indicated that there were three publishing cases filed against him, two of which were with the National Security Service in Najaf. He explained that these cases involved arrest warrants, search warrants, and summonses issued upon filing the complaint, as well as direct summonses from his home, all without any coordination with the Journalists Syndicate, despite the fact that these were not criminal cases. In the same recording, he affirmed that he would stand firm and continue his journalistic work, stating, “The corrupt are the sick ones, and those who remain silent about the truth are the sick ones.”

The Najaf Investigation Court had issued arrest warrants, search warrants, and summonses against him following a complaint filed by an investor in the province after he published a document issued by the provincial investment authority on his Facebook page. He clarified that addressing corruption cases is a fundamental part of his journalistic and oversight work.

On 17 February 12026, Al-Kaabi posted the following on his Facebook page, which he uses to combat the rampant corruption in his province: “An arrest warrant has been issued against me in connection with a lawsuit related to publishing. This lawsuit came after I shared an official document issued by a member of the Najaf Investment Authority, in which he requested the court to investigate the legal director, who he claimed was colluding with the head of the Investment Authority, Sahar Al-Fatlawi. I shared the document and, at the time, on 03 December 2025, demanded an investigation and the disclosure of the truth to the public. This is an essential part of my journalistic work and my professional duty to follow up on matters of concern to citizens and to protect the public interest.”

Citizens expressed their solidarity with Al-Kaabi and held up banners thanking him for his professional reporting of the truth and his success in stopping an investor from illegally seizing a plot of land.

On 24 March 2026, the Najaf Criminal Court (in its capacity as a Court of Cassation) held a session and decided to overturn the decision of the Najaf investigating judge issued on 24 February 2026, which had referred him to the Najaf Misdemeanor Court on the grounds that he was a journalist practicing media activity. GCHR has obtained a copy of the court’s decision.

Media figure sentenced to prison

On 22 February 2026, the Nasiriyah Misdemeanor Court in Dhi Qar Governorate sentenced media figure Rasim Karim, an Al-Nahrain Satellite TV correspondent, to one year in prison. According to some press reports, he was convicted of defamation against the mayor of Nasiriyah and several of its employees and technical staff, under Article 438 of the Iraqi Penal Code.

Other press reports indicated that his conviction stemmed from his filming local officials with a real estate agent late at night and then leaking the footage to a blogger who published it to discredit the officials.

Karim’s last post on his Facebook page, before his arrest in the early hours of 19 October 2025, was a video he had posted on 18 October 2025, about the lack of public services in the Al-Akr district of the governorate, including its unpaved streets that flood during the winter. He spoke out courageously, criticising the provincial officials for their failure to fulfill their duties due to corruption, despite the vast sums of money available in its budget. He accompanied the video with a statement attributed to the residents of the area: “The residents of Al-Akr district: The officials lied and did not keep their promises to us.”

In a second video, published on 17 October 2025, he addressed the Governor of Dhi Qar, Murtadha Aboud Al-Ibrahimi, on behalf of the residents of the Aqeel district in the governorate. The video concerned the governor awarding, in November 2024, a project to pave Aqeel Street, a vital thoroughfare, to an incompetent and slow-moving company that had ceased work for over a year. The recording began with a clip of the governor meeting with the residents before awarding the project, during which he promised them that the project would be completed on time – a promise he subsequently broke.

In a press statement issued on 06 May 2024, Karim stated that he was facing “five lawsuits from different government entities,” noting that “some of these cases have been decided in his favour by the courts, while others are still pending.” He explained that the reasons for his legal targeting stemmed from “his highlighting of vital issues, his coverage of protest activities, and his rejection of government measures that restrict media freedom and prevent access to the scene of events.” He further emphasised that “journalism in Iraq is in danger; there is no protection for journalists, nor any genuine press freedom, as the powerful political parties and their affiliated armed groups are opposed to any form of media freedom.” He added, “Many of my friends tell me: ‘You should thank God you are still alive amidst the militias and the chaos of weapons.'”

GCHR believes that the sole reason journalist Rasim Karim is being targeted is that he is one of the bravest free voices in Dhi Qar Governorate, and that he truthfully conveys the suffering of the people in his governorate without fear or hesitation. His targeting is part of a systematic pattern of targeting independent journalists, online activists, and critics of the authorities with fabricated charges and arbitrary arrests to silence them.

This is further evidenced by the fact that, despite being a well-known media figure, a security force from the Dhi Qar Governorate Intelligence Directorate raided his home. The clear objective was to send a message of intimidation and fear to his family and to anyone who wants to report the truth or criticise the authorities in the country.

Human rights defender briefly arrested

On 21 December 2025, prominent human rights defender and head of the Iraq Center for Human Rights, Ali Al-Abadi, was summoned by the mukhtar (local leader) of his neighbourhood in Basra to appear before the National Security Service in Basra Governorate. Upon complying with the summons, he discovered that there was an arrest warrant issued against him by the same agency in connection with statements he had made regarding the torture of a citizen in the presidential palaces in Basra. After a brief detention of several hours, he was released without charge.

GCHR has previously documented Al-Abadi being targeted several times due to his independent work in defending citizens’ rights and his opposition to torture inside and outside prisons.

Political activist arrested

On 27 November 2025, political activist Ghanem Khaled, a leader in the National House Party, was arrested due to a previously-filed lawsuit that was reopened against him in a malicious manner. He had been released by the judiciary on 07 December 2025, without any specific charges being brought against him. Although his case pertains to his online posts, his arrest was carried out by members of the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Intelligence Directorate in Dhi Qar Governorate. He was also subjected to ill-treatment during his detention and placed in solitary confinement. His personal belongings have not yet been returned to him, despite his release, in violation of all legal procedures. It is worth noting that two other cases related to his previous posts remain against him and could be used solely to intimidate him.

Ghanem Khalid uses his Facebook page, which features the slogan “Freedom for Sajjad Al-Iraqi,” to express his personal opinions on public issues of concern to citizens. On the day of his release, he wrote the following on his page: “This is the price of upholding the integrity of the word, which is what led me to spend eleven nights behind bars.” On 07 October 2025, he also wrote on his page: “My house was raided this morning by military forces. Anyone who saw them would think I was accused of a terrorist crime, and without any prior notification! Since when has expressing an opinion become a crime punishable by law? Has the human right to express one’s opinion become threatened by intimidation and arrest?”

Civil society activist arrested

On 25 November 2025, civil society activist and engineer Nawras Adnan was arrested after being summoned the previous day by the Karbala Governorate Intelligence Directorate. After questioning him, they referred him to an investigating judge, who ordered his detention pending investigation.

His detention is related to a previous post he published on his Facebook page, which he uses to express his personal opinions on public affairs concerning citizens and to combat corruption. He was released on bail on 30 November 2025. He is a member of the Iraqi Human Rights Watch.

Environmental activists targeted in Iraq

The country is facing a multifaceted environmental catastrophe, most notably a severe water shortage, particularly in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers during the summer months. Other challenges include desertification and the encroachment of sand dunes on green spaces, industrial and oil pollution, and the continued discharge of sewage and wastewater into major rivers, posing a serious threat to public health and fish stocks, with fish deaths occurring periodically.

Amid these very real dangers, environmental activists work with extreme difficulty, facing restrictions from government agencies and other influential entities, in addition to weak laws regarding environmental protection and a lack of awareness about the importance of preserving the environment.

Environmental activist arrested

On the morning of 04 March 2026, environmental activist Murtadha Al-Janoubi was arrested in the Al-Musharrah district of Al-Kahla of Maysan Governorate. His arrest occurred during demonstrations he helped organise, demanding sufficient and equitable water allocations for the Iraqi Marshes. He was released that same evening. Nine other protesters were also arrested but were all released after a brief detention.

Al-Janoubi uses his Facebook account to advocate for the right of the people of the Marshes to a free and dignified life, and to demand the preservation of the marshlands as a World Heritage Site.

On 01 March 2026, he wrote on his page, “The anniversary of the arrival of the first company from the Al-Uzair district. Because we didn’t hold onto the Marshes, we lost the rivers… because those who drained the Marshes live in palaces.”

UNESCO inscribed the Marshes of southern Iraq on its World Heritage List in 2016 as a unique mixed (natural and cultural) site, being one of the largest inland water bodies in an arid environment and home to a continuous ancient Sumerian civilisation. The Marshes (such as Hawizeh, Al-Jubayish, and Al-Hammar) encompass rare biodiversity and historical sites of Ur, Eridu, and Uruk. The main image illustrates the beauty of the marshlands and the need to protect their stunning natural environment.

Another environmental activist arrested

On 01 March 2026, security forces in Nasiriyah arrested environmental activist Mohammed Mubarak after he posted a video expressing his fears for his family due to the escalating regional conflict.

Despite his subsequent apology in a recording for any misunderstanding caused by his words, and his deletion of the video, local authorities still arrested him. According to local sources, he remains in custody of the National Security Service in Dhi Qar Governorate.

Mubarak is known among his colleagues for his dedicated volunteer work, including his contribution to establishing a nature reserve for animals and his participation in organising the Nasiriyah Reads Festival.

Civil society activists fear he may face serious charges such as terrorism or conspiracy against the country, which could carry heavy prison sentences and ruin his promising future as a university political science student.

The local authorities must release him immediately and unconditionally, as he is a peaceful, independent activist who had no intention of harming anyone, and despite his young age, he has a long history of service to the community.

Recommendations

GCHR reiterates its call on the Iraqi government to assume full responsibility for protecting all citizens, including human rights defenders, journalists, civil society, and vulnerable members of minority groups.

Furthermore, the relevant Iraqi authorities must clearly and unequivocally identify all perpetrators of kidnapping, torture, and killing of citizens, including human rights defenders, peaceful protesters and other activists, and bring them to justice immediately.

The authorities must uphold their constitutional obligations to respect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press, and refrain from enacting laws that violate the rights of all citizens, including women and girls.