Freedom of expression
It is the second year the people of Iraq are cut off from the internet as students take their tests. The same happened in 2015. In response to the shutdowns last year, digital advocacy groups wrote a letter calling on the Iraqi government to stop the blackouts:

The UN Human Rights Council has affirmed that the rights that are enjoyed offline must also be protected on the internet. Blocking access to the internet, or applications on the internet such as social media, violates the right to freedom of expression by denying the right of persons to seek, receive, and impart information. These shutdowns frequently occur during periods of civil unrest, directly impacting the right to association. As a result, shutdowns often precede and enable egregious human rights violations because journalists and witnesses are unable to effectively report on repressive actions by state and non-state actors.

We accordingly believe the decision by the government of Iraq to shut down the internet, whether for exams or for security reasons, negatively impacts human rights in the region. This is especially true in light of the ongoing conflict with ISIS and other groups in the country, who could use internet blockages to commit human rights violations under a media blackout, or to attack citizens who cannot gather crucial information about how to protect themselves or contact emergency services.



The letter was signed by AccessNow, Article19, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Heliopolis Institute.