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Iraq: Six years since Tishreen protests, activists persecuted and freedom of expression in peril

Six years on from the nationwide protests in October 2019, referred to as Tishreen, Iraqi authorities continue to persecute activists and protestors while failing to deliver meaningful justice and accountability for the killings of hundreds and the maiming of thousands of protesters by security forces and militias or to reveal the fate and whereabouts of those disappeared, Amnesty International said today.

Young people involved in the Tishreen protests were killed, injured and forcibly disappeared by security forces or militias simply for speaking out. Consecutive governments have announced numerous investigative committees to look into these crimes during Tishreen and its aftermath but to date no results have been made public. While at least 2700 criminal cases have been filed, few individuals have been brought to trial, and next to no justice has been delivered, with many sentences overturned.

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