Threats, arrests, targeted killings silence Iraqi dissidents

BEATEN, ELECTROCUTED

Four of the activists Reuters spoke to said they were arrested in the past year and two of those said they detained and beaten in recent weeks. They asked that their names not be published for fear of being targeted by security forces or militias.

One of those protesters described being arrested shortly after leaving a demonstration, beaten and electrocuted during 10 days of detention.

"They asked me to give names and addresses of other protesters, which I did," said the 26-year old man.

"I refused to confess to attacking police and damaging property but signed a document promising not to demonstrate again, and not to talk to press. They said they'd kill me if I did." He denied involvement in any attacks or vandalism.

The man said he was released, wrapped in a blanket and left outside his home in Baghdad after relatives pleaded for his freedom with contacts they knew in security forces and one paramilitary group. Reuters could not independently verify his account.

"Those detained and released are only released on bail. Charges are not dropped so they face re-arrest and trial," said Hassan Wahab from Baghdad-based human rights group Amal Association.

"Many people are fleeing, either heading to Erbil (the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region) or abroad," Wahab said.