A Civil Society Activist Shares His Story of Death Threats and Being Stabbed 17 times

“One person tied my legs, one tied my hands, one person stabbed me 17 times and while stabbing me penetrated the wounds even further.”

This statement is a harsh reality shared by most activists and members of civil society in Iraqi Kurdistan. On April 11th, 2022, CPT met with civil activist Mr. Aram after he was seriously injured in an attack by unidentified perpetrators following a series of death threats he received following his continuous and persistent activism work. Mr. Aram stated that on February 26th of 2022 at around 6:45 in the evening, he entered the quarters of his house and was driving very slowly. Suddenly, a pick-up truck pulled up quickly, and the perpetrators broke Aram’s passenger window. Four individuals then exited the vehicle and proceeded to bind down his entire body. One person tied his legs, one tied his hands, and then another perpetrator stabbed Aram 17 times continuously while also purposely penetrating the same wounds further. Additionally, the perpetrators cut Aram’s long hair. Aram stated how this action was the most difficult thing for him. “It was like taking his honor. I rather they take my leg.” The whole assault took under 50 seconds and took place in front of the Kalar Asiash headquarters which has its own series of implications. The perpetrators told Mr. Aram “if you raise your head we will shoot you.” The entire assault was captured on cameras residing in the Asiash headquarters which Aram shared with CPT. It was very clear that the assault was elaborately and meticulously planned and that the perpetrators were well-trained. Mr. Aram also shared photos and videos of his extensive injuries and it is hard to imagine that a human body is capable of surviving such gruesome wounds. Mr. Aram further stated that “they were experts and they didn’t leave any evidence. Because my case is political they can’t find the perpetrators anywhere. Either they will hide it or dismiss it or defame your reputation. I feel uncomfortable and insecure. I have been seriously impacted. I’m using a lot of painkillers. Sometimes I’m unconscious when I’m walking. Sometimes my wife will bring me back to consciousness when I’m in the yard unaware of what I am doing.”

Mr. Aram has a long history of activism in Iraqi Kurdistan and more specifically in his hometown Kalar which is located in the southern region of the Sulaymaniyah governorate. Moreover, as a result of his activism efforts he has received numerous death threats. Since June 2005 he has been actively engaged as an activist, largely focused on gender-based violence and the environment. Additionally, he worked on projects that worked to aid impoverished people and worked with the consulate in refugee camps in the region. More recently, Aram was heavily involved in three civil demonstrations and movements. He was part of the demonstrations against the Kurdish Regional Government which was protesting against the poor road conditions from Kalar to Sulaymaniyah otherwise known as “Death Road” in Kurdish for its long chronicle of deaths and vehicular accidents. According to statistics from the Kurdistan Region’s General Directorate of Traffic, 316 people died and 3,991 others were injured in 2,287 traffic accidents in the Region in the first seven months of 2021 alone. As a result of the demonstrations, over 150 oil trucks did not go to work in the nearby Hasra oil fields. Following his engagement and involvement with these demonstrations he received a death threat on February 3rd, 2022.

In January 2022, Mr. Aram called for and took part in civil actions that called for residents to break the new electricity and water meters issued by the government. Residents who didn’t purchase the device had to pay a penalty of 6 million dinars. Residents of not only Kalar but Iraqi Kurdistan as a whole have been criticizing the KRG for rising living costs and a lack of basic services such as electricity, fully-staffed schools, and medical services. The inequality of wealth and its distribution has been a source of tension. Whilst citizens don’t have electricity the government is splurging on non-essential functions. Additionally, the 6 million dinar fine is approximately 4200 dollars which is outrageously excessive compared to the average income of a family in Kalar. After actively taking part in social media and local protests about the meters, Aram received a death threat on January 9th, 2022.

In late 2020, Mr. Aram was involved in criticizing and taking civil actions against the government and private medical sector for rising medical prices and costs. The government was building three new private hospitals. Private hospitals are expensive and thus inaccessible and unaffordable to the average family. As a consequence of his activism on this particular subject, he received a death threat on November 17th, 2020.

All the death threats came from a Facebook messenger account. After issuing the threat, the profile would proceed to block Aram. The highly professional and proficient assault, harassment, and tracking of Aram’s physical and digital movements and activities resemble a grim reality for all civil society members and citizens who use free speech to criticize the government in Iraqi Kurdistan. Any use of free speech against any injustice committed by the Kurdish Regional Government means a precarious and dangerous spotlight of both the KDP and PUK security apparatuses. Criticizing the government for not having electricity can be fatal or mean being subjected to imprisoned or given a long sentence without a fair trial and receiving regular threats and harassment. CPT has been documenting this pattern of suppression of freedom of speech most notably in the Erbil governorate after when in January 2019 a series of demonstrations took place in the Badinan region of Iraqi Kurdistan resulting in the KRG security forces arresting 113 people connected to the demonstrations held in Shiladze and Duhok.

The Iraqi Constitution protects the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and peaceful demonstration, the rights to freedom of association and communication, including electronic communication, and the right to a fair trial. 16 Press Law in the Kurdistan Region (Law No 35 of 2007) In addition to the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, the ‘Press Law in the Kurdistan Region’ (Law No 35 of 2007) prohibits press censorship, guarantees freedom of expression and of publication to every citizen and explicitly provides that “opinions given, or information disseminated by a journalist may not be used as a justification to cause injury to his person or violate his rights”. Additionally, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) provides that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. This includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds. The Human Rights Committee of the ICCPR has stipulated that a free, uncensored, and unhindered press or other media, and the free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates, and elected representatives, is essential to ensure freedom of opinion and expression. The KRG’s actions while highly concerning are also a direct violation of international law and its own constitution. Since March 2020, UNAMI/OHCHR has “also documented several cases of targeted criminal proceedings initiated against journalists from various media outlets, as well as activists posting on social media, who have either reported on anti-government protests or been critical of the Kurdistan Regional authorities.” Ultimately, the KRG has a documented pattern of silencing public criticism, limiting the right to freedom of expression, threatening and killing its own citizens, and violating numerous laws and human rights.

CPT Iraqi Kurdistan is deeply concerned about the experiences and threats faced by Mr. Aram and all civil society activists. We call for the KRG to respect human rights and freedom of speech and expression. We call for KRG authorities to cease threats and harassing those who use their rights. We appeal to the Kurdistan Regional Government to adhere to the values of human rights that it has written in its own constitution.