According to a confidential report by the German Foreign Office, human rights violations by the police, army, and militias have increased in Iraq. Tagesschau.de reported on this exclusively. The report, which is apparently available to Norddeutscher Rundfunk, serves as a basis for decisions on asylum applications.
According to the report, there is “repeated systematic use of torture during interrogations by Iraqi (including Kurdish) police and other security forces” in Iraq. Allegations that confessions are extracted through pressure and torture are particularly worrying, according to tagesschau.de (Tagesschau | Human rights situation in Iraq).
Violence against activists and media workers
The report also notes arbitrary arrests and the imposition of death sentences. Intimidation and violence against activists and media workers are “widespread,” as are kidnappings. Criticism of militias or religious leaders can be life-threatening.
In May 2024, a law came into force imposing heavy prison sentences of up to 15 years for homosexual acts, sex changes, and imitation of the opposite sex. Violent attacks on homosexuals are frequent.
Situation of women has deteriorated
The position of women has deteriorated significantly in some respects compared to the time of Saddam Hussein’s regime, writes tagesschau.de. They are often subjected to discrimination in everyday life. Their opportunities to participate in political, social, and economic life in Iraq are limited.
The Foreign Office in Berlin declined to comment on the tagesschau.de article. When asked by tuenews INTERNATIONAL, it said it did not comment on confidential reports.
Nevertheless, more deportations to Iraq
The situation report published by the German Foreign Office in October 2022 already took a very critical view of the human rights situation in Iraq. According to tagesschau.de, the German government nevertheless agreed on a migration agreement with Iraq. As a result, almost 700 people were deported to Iraq in the past year, more than twice as many as in 2023 (300).
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) also did not comment on the current situation report. In response to an inquiry from tuenews INTERNATIONAL, the agency wrote that it was continuously monitoring and analyzing the situation in the asylum seekers’ countries of origin using a variety of sources. All relevant information about the human rights situation and persecution in the countries of origin would be evaluated.
BAMF uses various sources for asylum applications
In addition to the situation assessments of the Federal Foreign Office, these include, for example, those of the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR, other non-governmental organizations, the European Asylum Agency EUAA, as well as media, Internet sources, and the findings of partner authorities, especially in other European countries.
The BAMF adds that the case law of the administrative courts and the European Court of Justice is also taken into account in the assessment. The comprehensive information on the countries of origin is collected in a database and can be accessed by decision-makers at any time. This ensures that they are always informed about the current situation in the countries of origin.
Further information on human rights violations:
Amnesty International | Iraq
BMZ | Political situation in Iraq
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