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Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Watchdog: Iraq elections see rise in divisive rhetoric
Shafaq News/ Sectarian and ethnic rhetoric is escalating ahead of Iraq's 11 November parliamentary elections, the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) cautioned on Sunday, accusing political factions and media outlets of fueling division instead of promoting meaningful policy debate. In a statement, the IOHR highlighted a surge in identity-based messaging—sectarian, ethnic, and regional—circulating through campaigns and social media. It criticized candidates and their influencers for prioritizing identity politics over qualifications, public service, or reform agendas. Inflammatory language, once limited to the political fringe, now dominates mainstream discourse, according to the IOHR's Asber Center for Information Auditors. 'Social media platforms have become key battlegrounds for this divisive discourse,' the center reported, pointing to orchestrated disinformation campaigns—often run through fake accounts—that target specific communities with misleading, provocative content. The observatory condemned political speeches for amplifying exclusionary rhetoric, particularly against Kurds, minorities, and regional groups, noting that collective trauma and historic grievances are being weaponized to manipulate sentiment and drive identity-based voting. 'New candidates who sidestep programmatic engagement, [are] instead marketing themselves as guardians of 'the component,' 'the region,' or 'a persecuted history,'' the report warned, calling this trend one of the most dangerous developments in Iraq's political environment.
Rudaw Net
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Death of state media journalist sparks controversy in Iraq
Also in Iraq Drone targets Turkish military base in Nineveh Iraq returns 27,000 antiquities to national museum: Official Iraq is among the 15 most climate-affected countries globally: PM advisor Iraq to face crisis as US ends energy waiver: Former OPEC spox A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Baghdad's al-Rusafa Police Command on Wednesday stated that the controversial killing of Iraqi journalist Laith Mohammed Ridha in broad daylight was the result of a personal dispute, not an assassination. "While we extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, we clarify that the incident was not an assassination but rather the outcome of a dispute between the journalist Laith Mohammed Ridha and his neighbors," the Police Command of Baghdad's central district of Rusafa noted. The clarification followed reports from local Iraqi media that Ridha, a renowned journalist with the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), had been assassinated by a bodyguard of an Iraqi official in Rusafa's Arasat neighbourhood. The reports suggested that the dispute started over the speed of a vehicle and escalated when the guard carelessly shot the journalist. The Rusafa Police Command added that "security forces are currently conducting intensive search and inspection operations to apprehend the perpetrator," and emphasized 'the importance of relying on official sources of information to avoid disseminating inaccurate news.' CCTV footage obtained by Rudaw, showed an initial altercation between Ridha and another individual that escalated into a fistfight. The assailant then retrieved a handgun from a plateless black SUV and fired multiple shots at Ridha killing him. For its part, the INA mourned 'the martyrdom' of Ridha who passed away in a 'tragic shooting incident' and urged authorities to take swift action against this "cowardly criminal act" and 'bring those responsible to justice.' The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) warned in November that journalists in Iraq live in a constant state of fear and anxiety due to the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators who commit violations against press workers. IOHR highlighted that in the past two decades or so, since the 2003 toppling of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, over 475 journalists and media workers have been killed, with perpetrators held accountable in only two or three cases. This has placed Iraq among the most dangerous countries for journalists, according to the human rights watchdog. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, Iraq's press freedom ranking has declined in recent years, currently standing at 169th out of 180 countries, after it stood at 167 in 2023. These rankings also highlight the significant challenges to press freedom in the country.
Shafaq News
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
IOHR warns of grave risks in new legal amendments
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) expressed concern over the recent passage of amendments to the Personal Status Law and the General Amnesty Law in Parliament, warning that these measures pose a significant threat to human rights in Iraq. On January 21, the Iraqi Parliament made a one-basket vote for the Amnesty Law Personal Status Law and Restitution Law. In a statement released on Sunday, the observatory criticized the laws' passage as 'the result of political deals among dominant parliamentary blocs, reflecting a prioritization of narrow political interests over justice and citizens' rights.' The observatory voiced particular alarm over the current form of the General Amnesty Law, which it said could pave the way for the release of individuals implicated in terrorism and financial corruption, threatening public safety and increasing legal risks. The statement also highlighted the dangers posed by the new amendments to the Personal Status Law that 'could undermine women's and children's rights, particularly in matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance.' IOHR fears the amendments may lead to a rise in child marriages and erode legal gains for women. The observatory condemned the exclusion of civil society from the legislative process, noting the lack of public debate or consultation with human rights and legal experts before the laws were passed. 'This approach disregards democratic principles and further marginalizes the role of non-governmental organizations in safeguarding human rights,' the statement said. The observatory called on Iraq's political forces, particularly the Shiite Coordination Framework and Sunni blocs who endorsed the laws, to seek solutions that uphold constitutional principles and human rights. 'The amendments could have disastrous consequences for the country's stability and the future of its people.' The statement concluded.
