IFIR condemns Iraqi government threat to dissolve OWFI

International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR understands that the Iraqi Government has threatened to dissolve Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI).  The General secretariat of the Iraqi council of ministers have also filed a lawsuit against the president of OWFI. 

OWFI believe this action has been instigated against them by Adel Abdul Mahdi the outgoing Prime Minister as an act of revenge on OWFI, because OWFI has taken part in protests calling for the Prime Minster to resign.  IFIR call Iraqi government to dismiss these charges against the OWFI Director and allow OWFI to continue its work unhindered. 

We support the protests against corruption and stand alongside the Iraqi people and support their fight for a better life, freedom and equality.

Further to this we call on Iraqi Government to action the following demands:

1- To dismiss these charges against the OWFI Director and allow OWFI to continue its work unhindered.

2- To fulfill all the demands of the demonstrators
3- Acknowledging the freedom to demonstrate and protest without restriction
4-Pulling the armed forces out of the streets and ending the manifestations of militarization of society and intimidation
5-To release all the detained protestors immediately and stop pursuing the demonstrators
6-Dissolving all militias, closing their headquarters, confiscating their weapons, and holding them accountable for the crimes they committed against the protestors

7-A full investigation into all those involved in shooting and harassing protestors.

International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR

10/2/2020