Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaꞌ al-Sudani directs investigative committee on October demonstrations to accelerate work

BAGHDAD — On Tuesday, the Supreme Commission for Fact-Finding in Iraq issued a statement saying that in support of the judicial procedures, and in the interest of showing the facts and being fair to the families of the martyrs and wounded in the events of the October 2019 demonstrations, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani has directed the committee to accelerate its procedures.

The statement quoted al-Sudani inviting citizens who have testimonies regarding the events that resulted in criminal incidents that accompanied the events of the October 2019 demonstrations and beyond to appear before the committee to record their statements.

Al-Sudani stressed that the results of the fact-finding committee will be presented at a conference designated for this purpose and in fulfillment of the promises made to the October demonstrators.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) had confirmed in January 2022 that no legal accountability had been achieved in the cases of killing, maiming, and disappearance of demonstrators in Iraq that the organization had investigated, even for high-profile assassinations. The organization noted that the process of compensating the victims was also slow and exhausting.

The October uprising, which was seeking to combat Iranian corruption and interference in Iraq, was also attended by Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian youth, some of whom were killed during their participation in those events.