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Freedom of Assembly is a Basic Human
Right: Statement from the Federation of Civil
Society
27.6.2012
Federation of Civil Society - Ekurd.net |
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June 27, 2012
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Statement from the
Federation of Civil Society.
Freedom of Assembly is a
Basic Human Right
June 27, 2012
The Federation of Civil Society calls on the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) government security
forces to avoid using excessive force and weapons
against its citizens, including during times of
peaceful protest. Freedom of assembly is a basic
human right and use of excessive force and weapons
is a serious violation of those human rights.
Activist groups will assemble peacefully on
Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 11 a.m. in Sulaimaniyah
City to protest the budget passed in the KRG on June
24, 2012. The budget was passed without
transparency; without a clear and detailed plan;
without incomes identified; but with apparent
corruption.
The Federation of Civil Society supports every
democratic movement against corruption, including
the way in which the KRG passed its annual budget.
We are not satisfied with this situation and call on
the KRG for greater transparency in the budget
process.
At the same time, the Federation insists on the
freedom of assembly and the right for citizens to
express their opinions freely without fear of
retribution.
The Federation of Civil Society drafted the first
protest law in 2010 to protect freedom of assembly.
Since that time, members of the Federation have
observed every protest in Kurdistan and have
observed the use of violence against citizens by
government forces,www.ekurd.net
including the firing of automatic weapons and
beating of citizens. These actions are both a
violation of human rights and of the protest law and
were particularly apparent on July 27, 2011 and
February 17, 2012.
Since the government ‘crack-down’ of the two-month
peaceful gathering in Sulaimaniyah on April 19,
2011, the KRG has opposed every kind of protest and
has continued to use military force to prohibit
freedom of assembly. This situation has been
reported in international media numerous times:
• Not for Censoring Journalists with Wooden Batons
18.2.2012 -
http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/2/state5896.htm
•
http://www.wadinet.de/blog/?p=6384
• Stop the Whipping in Sulaimaniyah -
http://www.kurdishaspect.com/doc071611FCSO.html
The Federation of Civil Society urges government
leaders in the KRG and its government security
forces to respect the basic principles of human
rights, which includes freedom of assembly. We call
on government security forces to avoid using any
kind of force during the peaceful protest on
Thursday, June 28, 2012.
From this point forward, the Federation of Civil
Society will document and write reports about any
human rights violations as a result of excessive
force or use of weapons during peaceful gatherings
of citizens.
The Federation also asks that anyone with
information about any kind of violation contact the
Federation by calling one of these telephone
numbers: 07501179516, 07701573210, or 07701588173.
Federation of Civil Society
27-6-2012, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
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