Government clamps down

as these stories show...

Deadline close for Iraqi ministers told to make changes or lose job

CNN reports (June 4^th): Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's 100-day deadline is fast approaching for Cabinet ministers to make reforms or be fired, raising concerns of mass protests if the deadline passes without some sign of improvement.

But activists and a leading human rights group accused al-Maliki's government of a campaign of intimidation against protest organizers ahead of the deadline, even as an Iraqi government spokesman announced a news conference to showcase improvements.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Friday in Baghdad's Tahrir Square to demand the release of four protest organizers -- Jihad Jalil, Ali al-Jaf, Mouyed Faisal and Ahmed Al-Baghdadi -- who were detained during a protest at the same location a week earlier.

Carrying banners that featured pictures of the four organizers, demonstrators chanted: "Oh Maliki, don't muzzle the voice of the people/oh Maliki, release the four immediately."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/04/iraq.100.days/index.html

In Iraq, families of 4 jailed protesters seek answers

LA Times reports (June 3^rd): Families of four young pro-democracy protesters jailed in Baghdad said that their loved ones continued to be denied access to lawyers or relatives despite repeated requests.

The four men, who had played a major role in recent weekly demonstrations for better governance, were detained last Friday as they gathered for their regular protest in central Baghdad's Tahrir Square. Three of the men were shoved at gunpoint into the back of an ambulance, a witness said. Authorities did not acknowledge the detentions for several days.
The day after the arrests, the army raided a meeting of activists who were discussing how to secure the men's release. Nine more people were detained and have since been held incommunicado.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-detainees-20110603,0,5098126.story

"February Youths" movement considers suing Maliki's government in ICC 

Aswat al-Iraq reports (June 4^th): The February Youths Movement is looking into suing Premier Nouri al-Maliki's government at the International Criminal Court in the Hague for violating human rights, freedom of expression, peaceful demonstrations and the Geneva Convention.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142956&l=1

Protest Organizers Beaten, Detained

HRW reports (June 2^nd): Iraqi authorities have detained, interrogated, and beaten several protest organizers in Baghdad in recent days, Human Rights Watch said. Iraqi authorities should stop the attacks and charge or release those being held, Human Rights Watch said.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, a protest organizer, Isma'il Abdullah, was abducted, stabbed, and beaten on May 27, 2011. The Kurdistan government should make sure its promised investigation of the episode is thorough, fair, and transparent, and leads to the prosecution of those responsible, Human Rights Watch said.

"Authorities in Baghdad and in Iraqi-Kurdistan are keeping their citizens from demonstrating peacefully," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. 

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/06/02/iraq-protest-organizers-beaten-detained

Iraqi authorities must stop clampdown on peaceful protest

AI report (June 1^st): Amnesty International has called on the Iraqi authorities to end their clampdown on peaceful protests following the arrest of 15 pro-reform activists in Baghdad in recent days.

Four protesters were arrested by plain-clothed security forces during a peaceful demonstration in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square. They are still being held and are reported to be facing trial on charges of possessing  fake ID cards.  

Eleven other activists were arrested when security forces raided the Baghdad headquarters of 'Ayna Haqqi' (Where is my right), a local NGO.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/iraqi-authorities-must-stop-clampdown-on-peaceful-protest