Latest news with #DhiQarCriminalCourt
Shafaq News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi activist released after backlash over protest-related sentencing
Shafaq News/ An appeals court in Iraq's Babil province on Sunday ordered the release of activist Durgham Majid and several other protesters, hours after a lower court sentenced them to four months in prison over their role in anti-government demonstrations. The reversal followed the withdrawal of a legal complaint by Iraqi lawmaker Dunia al-Shammari, whose case had led to the convictions. A judicial source told Shafaq News the release order was issued by the Babil Appeals Court and applies to all 11 defendants. The initial sentencing sparked public outcry and fresh protests. Dozens of demonstrators blocked the entrance to the al-Hamza al-Gharbi courthouse earlier in the day, denouncing the ruling as a blow to civil liberties and calling for the immediate release of those detained. The case comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent in Iraq, where rights groups say authorities are increasingly turning to the judiciary to silence activism. In a separate ruling on Sunday, a court in the southern province of Dhi Qar sentenced prominent protest figure Ihsan Abu Kawthar to 15 years in prison for the killing of a fellow demonstrator. The Dhi Qar Criminal Court found him guilty under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder, a security source said. Abu Kawthar, a leading voice in the 2019 'Tishreen' protest movement in Nasiriyah, was arrested on March 8 following a raid on his home by local police. He was later transferred to the General Intelligence Directorate for further interrogation. Human rights monitors warn that the sentencing of both Majid and Abu Kawthar reflects a deepening judicial clampdown on Iraq's civil society, particularly in 2024 and early 2025. Amnesty International, in a recent submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, flagged Iraq's failure to implement prior human rights commitments and cited widespread arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force, and lack of accountability in detention centers. Freedom House rated Iraq as 'Not Free' in its Freedom in the World 2025 report, giving the country a score of 31 out of 100 and pointing to severe restrictions on free speech, assembly, and civil society operations. In January, the UN Human Rights Council's review of Iraq's record acknowledged limited progress but underscored ongoing threats to freedom of expression and the safety of civil society actors. Rights advocates say the recent legal measures targeting protesters reflect a coordinated effort by Iraqi authorities to suppress dissent ahead of upcoming provincial elections and amid ongoing political turbulence.
Shafaq News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Extortion Allegation: Ex-Dhi Qar councilman jailed 3 years
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Dhi Qar Criminal Court has sentenced former Provincial Council member Ammar Al-Rikabi to three years in prison on extortion charges, a security source reported Monday. The conviction was issued in absentia under Article 430 of Iraq's Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, which addresses threats and blackmail, the source told our Agency, adding, 'The court found Al-Rikabi guilty of attempting to extort Governor Murtada al-Ibrahimi.' Previously head of the Energy Committee in the Dhi Qar Council, authorities link Al-Rikabi to a broader 'extortion network' allegedly targeting senior officials in the province. On February 9, the court released two suspects involved in a related case concerning al-Ibrahimi. Although the governor dropped charges against those individuals, he continued to press extortion claims against Al-Rikabi and former governor Mohammed Hadi.
Shafaq News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Dhi Qar extortion case: Two defendants released
Shafaq News/ The Dhi Qar Criminal Court ordered the release of two defendants in the extortion case involving dismissed Governor Murtada al-Ibrahimi, a security source confirmed on Sunday. According to the source, al-Ibrahimi dropped charges against two female defendants, allowing for their release under the provisions of the General Amnesty Law. 'The court's decision aligns with both the governor's waiver and legal stipulations governing amnesty cases,' the source clarified. 'Their release is expected in the coming days.' Despite withdrawing complaints against these individuals, al-Ibrahimi continues to pursue extortion allegations against two members of the Dhi Qar Provincial Council—Mohammed Hadi, a former governor, and Ammar al-Rikabi. The legal dispute comes in the wake of al-Ibrahimi's dismissal, which was finalized in mid-January when the Dhi Qar Provincial Council voted to remove him from office. His tenure had been under scrutiny since November 2024, when 19 members of parliament from the province urged National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar Al-Hakim to replace him, citing allegations of financial and administrative misconduct, as well as unilateral decision-making.
