Appeal of Iraqi NGO’s on the assassination of the activist Jalal Dhiyab

Jalal Dhiyab

Representatives of civil society organizations; the signatories of this appeal, condemn the assassination in Basrah on 26 April 2013 of the activist, Jalal Dhiyab; the President of the Supporters Humanitarian Liberty Association, one of the outstanding defenders of human rights in Iraq, who has devoted much of his life to defend black rights for full citizenship, and his legitimate claim to address the culture of discrimination and the rights of black citizens in political representation and participation in public life, draw a road map for the achievement of equality and the promotion of political representation and participation in public life, draw a road map for the achievement of equality and the promotion of citizenship rights for all components in the process of building a democratic system in Iraq.

In 2011, he was honored by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) as a prominent defender of human rights in Iraq.

While we condemn this criminal act, we call on the Iraqi Government to open an investigation to find out the perpetrators and bring them to justice, thus confirming the principle of justice and non impunity. At the same vein, we request the relevant authorities to provide protection for human rights activists and defenders of civil peace, whom are easy targets for extremists in the chaos and armed violence and sharp political division at the current critical period prevailed in our country.

Baghdad, April 30th 2013