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‘Iraqi authorities have detained, interrogated, and beaten several protest organizers in Baghdad in recent days, Human Rights Watch said today. Iraqi authorities should stop the attacks and charge or release those being held, Human Rights Watch said.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, a protest organizer, Isma’il Abdullah, was abducted, stabbed, and beaten on May 27, 2011. The Kurdistan government should make sure its promised investigation of the episode is thorough, fair, and transparent, and leads to the prosecution of those responsible, Human Rights Watch said.

“Authorities in Baghdad and in Iraqi-Kurdistan are keeping their citizens from demonstrating peacefully,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Iraq needs to make sure that security forces and pro-government gangs stop targeting protest organizers, activists, and journalists.”‘

Read more: Iraq: Protest Organizers Beaten, Detained

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