One of Iraq’s leading human rights officials, Ali al-Bayati, raised the abuse allegations on an Iraqi television show in 2020. A year later, he was sued for defamation by Iraq’s Council of Ministers Secretariat, which is under the authority of the prime minister, forcing him later to leave the country to avoid legal retribution. In written communications to Western missions in Baghdad, reviewed by The Post, Bayati appealed for help with his case.
Some promised to privately intervene, he said, but shared little in the way of follow-up. Only United Nations special rapporteurs publicly criticized his treatment. Read the details in Washington post
- Forign policy: Mustafa al-Kadhimi promised reform and freedom of expression. Now he’s using archaic laws to stifle free speech.
- Special rapporteur on HRDs’ statement
- MENA Rights Group sends a communication to the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sent a letter to Human Rights Council.
- Mr Clement Voule UN special Rapporteur on freedom of Association quoted on the case.
- Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions condemns the “case of intimidation and reprisal” against Al Bayati
- HRW| Iraq| Drop Complaint Against Iraq Human Rights Commission Member, Dr. Ali al-Bayati Targeted for Raising Issues of Torture.
- FIDH| Urgent Appeal| Iraq: Judicial harassment of Dr Ali Akram al-Bayati
Ali Al Bayati 