Amnesty International: Attacks target activists in South Kurdistan
Amnesty International: Attacks target activists in South Kurdistan
Kurdish authorities must immediately launch an independent investigation into attacks on those with links to pro-reform protests, Amnesty International said today after a human rights lawyer was shot.
Karwan Kamal, a lawyer defending the protesters in the city of Sulaimaniya, was directly hit and two others were hurt when a gunman fired at them on Sunday night.
There is strong reason to believe that Karwan Kamal was targeted for his work to defend pro-reform protesters, said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Director.
The Kurdish authorities must carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into this shooting and bring to justice those responsible. Attacks on human rights defenders must not be tolerated.
Kamal had just left a restaurant with a friend and was collecting his car from a nearby car park at around 11:30 p.m. when the shooting took place. A gunman in traditional Kurdish dress fired five bullets at close range, one of which hit the human rights lawyer in his left leg, causing him to be rushed to hospital.
His friend and a car park employee were injured by shrapnel when another of the bullets hit a concrete wall. A second individual is said to have been waiting in a car and then to have helped the gunman escape the scene after firing.
Kamal told Amnesty International that he had not received any threats prior to the attack, but that he knows of others who have received anonymous threats for supporting those involved in protests earlier this year.
The authorities must put an end to these attacks targeting political and human rights activists and reinstate the right to peacefully demonstrate, said Malcolm Smart.
People in Iraqs Kurdistan region must be allowed to exercise their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and assembly without fearing for their safety.
Karwan Kamal, a lawyer defending the protesters in the city of Sulaimaniya, was directly hit and two others were hurt when a gunman fired at them on Sunday night.
There is strong reason to believe that Karwan Kamal was targeted for his work to defend pro-reform protesters, said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Director.
The Kurdish authorities must carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into this shooting and bring to justice those responsible. Attacks on human rights defenders must not be tolerated.
Kamal had just left a restaurant with a friend and was collecting his car from a nearby car park at around 11:30 p.m. when the shooting took place. A gunman in traditional Kurdish dress fired five bullets at close range, one of which hit the human rights lawyer in his left leg, causing him to be rushed to hospital.
His friend and a car park employee were injured by shrapnel when another of the bullets hit a concrete wall. A second individual is said to have been waiting in a car and then to have helped the gunman escape the scene after firing.
Kamal told Amnesty International that he had not received any threats prior to the attack, but that he knows of others who have received anonymous threats for supporting those involved in protests earlier this year.
The authorities must put an end to these attacks targeting political and human rights activists and reinstate the right to peacefully demonstrate, said Malcolm Smart.
People in Iraqs Kurdistan region must be allowed to exercise their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and assembly without fearing for their safety.
