Articles for Iraq

In its latest shadow report on the widespread practice of enforced disappearances in Iraq, Alkarama identifies alarming patterns – in particular the widespread use of secret detention and the abductions committed by government-backed militias – and formulated 14 key recommendations to the authorities to tackle the issue.

On 20 August 2015, Alkarama and Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly sent a communication to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of Wessam Hussein Ali Al Ghazzawi who disappeared since his abduction from Baghdad by Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT) forces in August 2014.

On 17 August 2015, the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) published its Concluding Observations following their initial review of Iraq.

On 14 August 2015, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, brought to the attention of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) the cases of Mohammad Al Dulaimi and Essam Al Obaidi, two Iraqi policemen who disappeared following their respective arrests by the Iraqi Army and the American Army, in 2005 and 2007.

Disappearance of Mohammad Al Dulaimi

On 4 August 2015, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, sent a communication to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of Omar Al Samarrai, a 39-year-old Iraqi citizen who disappeared following his arrest by the "Al Hussam" Brigade in December 2007. Since his arrest, Al Samarrai's family has been constantly blackmailed by members of the security services who have been asking for money in exchange for his release.

On 29 July 2015, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, sent an urgent action to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of Juma Al Dulaimi, a 51-year-old Iraqi citizen who disappeared following his arrest by the Security Forces in June 2014 in the city of Al-Mahawil, located 100 km south of Baghdad in the Babil Governorate.

On 30 July 2015, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, sent an urgent action to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the cases of Mohammad Al Dulaim, Amer Al Dulaimi and Raed Al Dulaimi, who disappeared following their arrest by the security services in the village of Dulaim in July 2014.

On 29 July 2015, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, sent an urgent action to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of Mohammad Al Kamash, a married 29-year-old Iraqi citizen who disappeared following his arrest by military officers from the Baghdad Operation Command in June 2014.

On 27 July 2014, Alkarama, in cooperation with Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly, sent an urgent action to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of Ammar Al Dulaimi, a 32-year-old Iraqi citizen who disappeared in Hillah in the Babil Governorate following his arrest by the military forces in July 2014.

On 30 July 2015, Alkarama and Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly submitted an urgent action to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) regarding the case of 12 Iraqi citizens abducted from their homes in Baghdad in April 2014 during a wave of arrests by SWAT forces and who remain disappeared since.