 The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), through
its monitoring of the ongoing demonstrations in Baghdad and the associated acts,
violence and the use of highly damaging releases, which their use is a
violation of human rights in accordance with the UN Basic Principles on the Use
of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the Application of
Non-Violent Means Gradually before Resorting to the Use of Force. The IHCHR
noted the following:
- Excessive use of
tear gas canisters and throwing them in crowded areas, leading to increased
casualties.
- Teargas
canisters were fired directly at the demonstrators, where it had been observed
that the canisters are lodged in the head, chest and other sensitive areas,
which led to the death directly or later.
- The voluntary
medical detachments deployed in Tahrir Square have confirmed the (50 - 200) skin
burns cases a day suffered by protesters as a result of exposure to gas and
stressed that many of them inflame, complicate and doubted that these symptoms
are not among the symptoms of tear gas of all kinds known (CS, CN, OC, CX, CS2,
Pepper), it is alarming matter and needs to check the nature of the gas used by
specialists from the Ministry of Health and Environment and make it public.
- The largest
number of deaths were due to the use of rubber bullets as a result of injury to
the chest, head or unspecified parts, which is contrary to the principles of
human rights in the use of these releases ... hence the Commission calls for
the following:
- 1.
Immediately cease the use of these arms and seek other
means that save the lives of the demonstrators, such as the use of water or sound
releases when needed to limit harm or self-defense.
- 2.
Open an investigation into the nature and types of
gases used and ensure that bombs of other types are not used to cause
significant damage and are not appropriate to face peaceful protests.
- 3.
Emphasize the security forces to enable the
demonstrators to exercise their constitutional right to express their opinion,
as well as the Commission stresses the optimal use of the means, not used
except for the utmost necessity and that rubber bullets are to be within the legal
distances specified by the safe engagement criteria and not be directed towards
the upper part of body In a way that does not threaten the lives of the
demonstrators.
- 4.
The Ministry of Health and Environment to state the
number of martyrs and injured, the causes of death and injury, the kind of
weapons and gases used, and to adopt transparency in the right to access
information.
- 5.
The Commission expresses its support for the right to
peaceful demonstration and the legitimate demands of the protestors and calls
upon all demonstrators to abide by the general principles of demonstration, to not
contact the security forces and to not damage public property.
Send by: Site Manager | Date: 07-11-2019 | Time: 11:31:51 am | Read : 9 |
|
humanrights.gov.iq
