Forum in Najaf calls for justice, recognition for Tishreen protest victims

NAJAF — The Oma Organization for human rights hosted a forum at Khurnaq Palace in Najaf to address the struggles faced by victims of the Tishreen protest movement. The event, attended by wounded protesters, families of victims, and members of parliament, called for compensation and accountability. Discussions highlighted concerns over ongoing arrest warrants targeting activists.

The Tishreen movement, which started in October 2019 and lasted until May 2021, arose as a response to widespread economic hardship, rampant corruption, high unemployment, inadequate public services, and government inefficiency. It became Iraq’s largest mass protest since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, distinguished by its independence from traditional political factions.

Hashim Al-Nafakh, director of Oma, described the forum as an effort to honor the victims of Tishreen. “We aimed to remember the victims of the Tishreen protests, including those falsely accused, the wounded, the martyrs, and those targeted in assassination attempts,” Al-Nafakh told 964media.

He noted that the organization presented a book documenting these cases and added, “We stressed the need to pressure the Iraqi government to expedite compensation for victims and hold the perpetrators of violence accountable.”

Over the past three years, Oma has worked to document violations and support victims. Al-Nafakh explained that their efforts have evolved annually: “In the first year, we conducted a study on false accusations and torture. In the second year, we reported on attacks by armed groups, known as ‘the third party,’ and the health and bureaucratic challenges faced by the injured. This year, we are documenting personal stories in a book to memorialize their sacrifices for future generations.”

One participant, Sarah Amer, called on MPs Haider Shamkhi and Sajjad Salem to honor the victims by creating public memorials. “We asked for streets and squares to be named after the Tishreen martyrs,” Amer said.

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 600 people were killed during the protests, a number exceeding official government estimates. Among the 624 identified victims, nearly half were killed in Baghdad. The observatory cautioned that the absence of accountability for those responsible could escalate the risk of future violence.