In a deeply troubling development for civil society and human rights defenders in Iraq, prominent lawyer and activist Zainab Jawad was arrested on Sunday, June 29, while passing through the Al-Shaab checkpoint on her return journey from Erbil to Baghdad. The arrest, reportedly carried out by security elements affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi), has sparked condemnation and alarm from advocacy groups and fellow activists across the country.Zainab Jawad is known for her bold criticism of the increasing influence of militias on the Iraqi state, particularly the role of Iran-backed PMF groups in undermining law, order, and democratic freedoms. Her recent public comments challenging the repression of activists, women, and journalists—especially concerning the controversial amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law—may have placed her in direct conflict with powerful political-militia networks.Since her arrest, Jawad’s whereabouts remain unknown, and she has reportedly been denied access to legal counsel and family communication. This opacity raises fears of potential abuse, extrajudicial detention, and intimidation tactics aimed at silencing dissenting voices.A Dangerous Pattern of RepressionDakok, a UK-based civil society organization advocating for Kurdish and Iraqi human rights, issued a strong statement condemning the arrest, declaring it “a flagrant violation of basic human rights and constitutional protections.” Dakok further warned that checkpoints across Iraq have increasingly become tools of suppression, where free citizens—particularly critics of the state and non-aligned voices—can be stopped, interrogated, and disappeared without due process.This is not an isolated incident. Other activists and journalists across both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have similarly faced harassment, detention, and forced disappearances for political expression. Among them:Ali Jasim, a youth organizer from Nasiriyah, was arrested in April 2025 after criticizing militia violence in southern Iraq. His family had no contact for 10 days.In the Kurdistan Region, journalist Sherwan Sherwani was rearrested earlier this year despite completing his sentence for “undermining national security,” a charge widely condemned by rights groups as politically motivated.Rebwar Karim, a Kurdish activist, was detained in Sulaymaniyah in May 2025 during a peaceful protest over unpaid salaries. He was held without charge for over 72 hours.These cases underscore a growing climate of fear, where legal protections are selectively applied and freedom of speech is punishable by arbitrary arrest.A Call for AccountabilityZainab Jawad’s arrest serves as a painful illustration of the dangers facing Iraq’s civil activists. It also reveals how militia-aligned security units act with near-total impunity, often outside the framework of judicial oversight. Activists warn that this trend—if left unchallenged—threatens to dismantle the fragile democratic space won after decades of dictatorship and war.Human rights groups, political observers, and Iraq’s international partners are being called upon to demand:Immediate release or fair legal procedure for Zainab Jawad.Transparency on her current detention status.Protection for activists, lawyers, and journalists who challenge political authority.The fate of Zainab Jawad is not just a personal injustice—it is a symbol of the shrinking space for dissent and reform in a country where violence, impunity, and militia power often override law and rights.—For updates or interviews regarding this case or broader human rights monitoring in Iraq and the KRG, please contact the advocacy team at Dakok.
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