A/HRC/43/51/Add.3 Iraq 653. JUA 14/10/2019 Case no: IRQ 4/2019 State reply: 19/12/2019 Allegations of the use of excessive and lethal force by security forces, including live ammunition, against peaceful protesters, reports of deadly targeted sniper fire against and targeted killings of protesters, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries, as well as the arbitrary arrests and detentions of protesters and civil society activists, an internet shutdown, the forced closure of several satellite TV channels, and the intimidation and harassment of journalists and civil society activists, in cities and governorates across central and southern Iraq, including in Baghdad, since the beginning of October 2019. 654. JUA 08/11/2019 Case no: IRQ 5/2019 State reply: none to date Allegations concerning the alleged enforced disappearance of Ms. Saba alMahdawi, who had participated in several demonstrations in the past weeks. 655. PR 29/10/2019 UN experts urge Iraq to ensure those behind violence against protesters are prosecuted 656. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Iraq for the response received to his communication sent on 14 October 2019 and looks forward to receiving the translation to the government response. He regrets that, at the time of finalisation of this report, no response has been received in response to the communication sent 8 November 2019. 657. The Special Rapporteur expresses serious concern at what appears to be severe violations of several human rights of protesters across cities and governorates in central and southern Iraq, including in Baghdad. He is dismayed by the alleged use of excessive and lethal force by security forces to disperse protesters, including the use of live ammunition and the ramming of protesters with armoured vehicles, and through the use of less lethal means, such as stun grenades. He further expresses his shock and dismay at the targeted killings of protesters and those tending to the dead and injured by sniper fire, and the targeted killings of protesters after demonstrations. The use of force has resulted in significant loss of life and thousands of injuries, some of a serious nature. 658. The Special Rapporteur is further concerned about the large number of alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions of protesters and civil society activists, both during and after demonstrations. Additional concern is expressed by reports that some individuals have been beaten and prevented from reaching hospitals in Baghdad, and that arrests of wounded protesters have allegedly taken place from inside hospitals. 659. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his welcoming of President Barham Salih’s call on 7 October 2019 to open a constructive dialogue with demonstrators and to open a judicial investigation into the causes of the violence and use of excessive force by security forces. He further follows the information available in public media concerning the establishment of a governmental Investigative Committee, and welcomes its recommendations on disciplinary and judicial investigations against identified perpetrators. 660. The Special Rapporteur expresses grave concern at the alleged enforced disappearance of Ms Saba al-Mahdawi, which appears to be a direct result of her exercise of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in the context of the protests in Baghdad. He calls on the Government to provide a prompt and effective judicial remedy as a means of determining the Ms al-Mahdawi’s fate and whereabouts. 661. The Special Rapporteur is also seriously concerned at the imposed restrictions on media freedoms, including the intimidation and harassment of journalists and alleged forced closure of several satellite TV stations in Baghdad, as well as the reported internet shutdown in many parts of Iraq. The Special Rapporteur would like to remind the Government that internet shutdowns affect the capacity of human rights defenders to carry out their work and document human rights abuses. Shutdowns fail to meet the established test for restrictions on 90