OHCHR / AL-HUSHAMI KILLING REAX

“The shocking murder” of Iraqi leading researcher and security analyst Hisham Al-Hushami “has brought into sharp relief the risks faced by people who dare to challenge powerful militias in Iraq,” said today the UN Human Rights Office. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:00
• Production Date: 10 July 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: CRIME; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: IRAQ
• MAMS Id: 2550384
• Parent Id: 2550384
• Alternate Title: unifeed200710c

Description

STORY: OHCHR / AL-HUSHAMI KILLING REAX
TRT: 2:00
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS

DATELINE: 10 JULY 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Exterior shot, Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The shocking murder in Iraq this week of leading researcher and security analyst Hisham Al-Hushami in Baghdad has brought into sharp relief the risks faced by people who dare to challenge powerful militias in Iraq and are vocal about pervasive impunity and corruption.”
3. Exterior shot, Palais Wilson
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We welcome the pledge by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to hold Al-Hushami’s murderers to account. Al-Hushami’s killing, which is the most high-profile in recent months, follows a pattern of killings targeting individuals who were linked in some way to the demonstrations or who had voiced public criticism of the Government, political parties or militia groups.”
5. Exterior shot, Palais Wilson
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“There are credible reports that in nearly all these incidents, criminal investigations were started but we have neither received nor obtained information indicating that any alleged perpetrator has been identified or arrested. We therefore welcome the stated commitment of the new Iraqi Government, which was formed in May, to establishing the number and circumstances of all casualties arising from violence linked to demonstrations, including the deaths of some 490 people during the demonstrations or near protest sites.”
7. Exterior shot, Palais Wilson
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We call on the government to ensure accountability—through thorough, independent and transparent investigations and prosecution—for all violence perpetrated in relation to the demonstrations, and for targeted killings. It is vital that those responsible for ordering, planning or perpetrating such killings must all be held to account. Victims and their families have the right to justice, truth and reparations.”
9. Exterior shot, Palais Wilson

Storyline

The killing of Al-Hushami, who was shot dead by unidentified attackers outside his house in Iraqi capital Baghdad on 6 July, has sent shockwaves throughout the country. He was an expert on terrorism, violent extremism, and armed groups and non-state actors in Iraq, including ISIL and militias.

At the weekly briefing to journalists, held on Friday (10 Jul) in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson Liz Throssell said “the shocking murder in Iraq this week of leading researcher and security analyst Hisham Al-Hushami in Baghdad has brought into sharp relief the risks faced by people who dare to challenge powerful militias in Iraq and are vocal about pervasive impunity and corruption.”

She also said her Office welcomed “the pledge by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to hold Al-Hushami’s murderers to account. Hushami’s killing, which is the most high-profile in recent months, follows a pattern of killings targeting individuals who were linked in some way to the demonstrations or who had voiced public criticism of the Government, political parties or militia groups.”

The UN Mission in Iraq, UNAMI, and the UN Human Rights Office have verified the targeted killings of 23 people linked to the demonstrations from 1 October to 9 May, with a further 13 people being injured. These victims included political and human rights activists, people who were vocal on social media in support of the demonstrators, and local community organisers. Many were killed in a similar way, often outside their home.

“There are credible reports that in nearly all these incidents, criminal investigations were started but we have neither received nor obtained information indicating that any alleged perpetrator has been identified or arrested,” OHCHR spokesperson said and added “we therefore welcome the stated commitment of the new Iraqi Government, which was formed in May, to establishing the number and circumstances of all casualties arising from violence linked to demonstrations, including the deaths of some 490 people during the demonstrations or near protest sites.”

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called “on the government to ensure accountability—through thorough, independent and transparent investigations and prosecution—for all violence perpetrated in relation to the demonstrations, and for targeted killings. It is vital that those responsible for ordering, planning or perpetrating such killings must all be held to account. Victims and their families have the right to justice, truth and reparations,” Throssell said.