Iraq | Arrest of Environmental Activist Murtadha Al-Janoubi and Peaceful Protesters in Maysan

HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Participation condemns the arbitrary arrest of environmental activist Murtadha Al-Janoubi and a number of peaceful protesters, following their participation in demonstrations demanding fair and sufficient water allocations for the Meshrab River and surrounding marshlands in Maysan Governorate. This arrest is part of a troubling pattern of shrinking civic space in southern Iraq, targeting especially those who exercise independent civil oversight over public policies and expose their environmental and human impacts on local communities.

Murtadha Al-Janoubi has been an environmental activist documenting the degradation of Maysan’s marshes for years. He has monitored the impact of the water crisis on livelihoods, food security, and the local ecosystem, publicly raising questions, based on his field observations and monitoring of public policy, about domestic water management, the consequences of oil expansion near the marshes, and the effects of reduced cross-border water releases. His public work has consistently documented the condition of the marshes and the resulting decline in livelihoods and displacement of residents from the hardest-hit areas.

These demonstrations occurred against the backdrop of severe drought in recent weeks, which has placed direct pressure on drinking water, agriculture, and livestock, forcing some families to rely on expensive water delivered by tanker trucks, in the absence of sufficient government measures to guarantee the minimum standard of the human right to water.

As of the issuance of this statement, Iraqi authorities have not released an official statement specifying the legal basis for Al-Janoubi’s detention or the charges against him and other detainees. Nor has sufficient information been made available to verify whether they have been presented before a competent judicial authority or granted fundamental procedural guarantees, including access to lawyers and communication with their families. HuMENA therefore expresses serious concerns regarding respect for procedural safeguards under Iraqi law and international standards.

This arrest cannot be separated from a broader context of repeated targeting and intimidation of activists in Maysan amid a clear lack of effective accountability. In recent years, the governorate has witnessed assassinations, attempted assassinations, and attacks against activists, without transparent and independent investigations leading to the prosecution of perpetrators or those who ordered the attacks. This pattern of impunity does not represent isolated incidents but functions as an enabling factor, expanding the scope for violations and undermining society’s ability to engage in peaceful civil oversight.

The arrest, if linked to the exercise of protected rights, constitutes a violation of Iraq’s national and international obligations. The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Articles 36 and 38 of the Iraqi Constitution. The right to water is a fundamental human right affirmed by international standards, including General Comment No. 15 (2002) and UN General Assembly Resolution 64/292 (2010). The 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders guarantees the right to monitor, document, and seek remedies for violations and prohibits retaliation for exercising these rights. Procedural safeguards require that detainees be informed of the reasons for their detention, be able to defend themselves, access a lawyer and communicate with family, and be brought without undue delay before a competent judicial authority.

This arrest comes after Iraq’s fourth Universal Periodic Review on 27 January 2025, which included clear recommendations to strengthen the protection of rights and freedoms, including reducing arbitrary detention and safeguarding freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Today’s incident is a direct test of the seriousness of these commitments, particularly in governorates where environmental crises intersect with economic and political interests.

Al-Janoubi’s work makes him a predictable target in efforts to silence civil oversight. His documentation does not merely describe environmental conditions but publicly links the degradation of the marshes to public resource management, including oil activities near the marshes, cross-border water management, and internal water distribution mechanisms. This intersection increases the stakes of civil oversight for influential actors and is likely a factor motivating the targeting.

HuMENA calls on Iraqi authorities to:

1. Immediately release Murtadha Al-Janoubi and all others detained in connection with these peaceful protests, and halt any detention based solely on exercising freedom of expression or the right to peaceful assembly.
2. Immediately disclose the locations of all detainees, ensure access to lawyers and family communication, and provide necessary medical care without restriction or delay.
3. Stop using the criminal justice system as a tool to intimidate or retaliate against environmental and human rights activists, and drop any charges based on peaceful participation or civil oversight activities.
4. Conduct an independent and effective investigation into the arrests and any excessive use of force during security interventions, publicly announce the results, and ensure accountability and non-repetition.
5. Implement an urgent government response to the water crisis in Maysan, including a clear timeline for equitable water distribution, provision of relevant public information, and linking any oil activities or expansion near the marshes to independent environmental impact assessments and meaningful community consultations.
6. Provide concrete protections for human rights defenders and environmental activists in Maysan and southern Iraq, including ending intimidation, harassment, and retaliation, and ensuring a safe environment for peaceful civic action.

Using detention to silence those documenting violations of the right to water and the right to a healthy environment is not an isolated violation but a sign of a deeper crisis in civil oversight and accountability in southern Iraq. The environmental and water crisis in Maysan cannot be effectively addressed while those documenting it or peacefully demanding solutions are suppressed. HuMENA will continue to monitor this case and engage with regional and international rights networks and UN mechanisms to support accountability and break the cycle of impunity.