INTERVIEW | Report sheds lights on impact of tribalism in Iraq’s human rights situation
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has published a thematic report on tribalism and customary law in Iraq, issues that are not frequently addressed in Country of Origin Information (COI) due to their complexity and sensitivity. In this interview, we spoke with Amr Wazaz, EUAA’s COI Information Officer, about the report "Iraq - Arab tribes and customary law".
The report sheds light on the structure of the Arab Muslim tribes in Western, Central and Southern Iraq and how tribal law impacts specific groups such as women, Christian converts and Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) that are perceived to be affiliated to the so-called Islamic State (ISIL).
Please introduce yourself, your role in the Country of Information Sector (COIS) and in the overall preparation of the Iraq COI report production exercise.
I joined the COI sector in September 2019 as part of the MENA Desk (Middle East and North Africa). In addition to drafting chapters in COI reports, I am the coordinator of the COI networks on Iraq, Libya, and Palestine. For the latest thematic report on Iraq, I was both the coordinator of the production process and the co-drafter of the report.
Can you describe what are the main topics covered in the COI report Iraq - Arab tribes and customary law?
The report “Iraq - Arab tribes and customary law” tackles the theme of tribalism in Iraq and its impact on the human rights and the security situation in the country. The first chapter of the report provides information on the structure of Arab Iraqi tribes, the prevalence of tribalism in the Iraqi society, and the characteristics and role of tribal (customary) law. Since tribal feuds and conflicts are common in Iraq, the causes of such disputes and the mechanisms the tribes employ to resolve them are explained, followed by the treatment of certain profiles by the tribes, specifically persons with perceived affiliation to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and their families including women and children. Moreover, the report sheds light on the interaction between customary law and formal state law in Iraq, and the State’s ability to respond to individuals’ fear of tribal retaliation and harmful practices and to offer protection. Finally, the last chapter of the report sheds light on the impact of tribal disputes on the security situation in Iraq by providing data on the security incidents associated with tribal actors and exploring the Iraqi state’s ability to respond to threats arising from such disputes.
How did this production come to be? How was it conceptualised? What needs prompted it?
Following a series of COI reports on Iraq published in late 2021 and early 2022, it became evident that there was a significant information gap as regards the issue of tribalism in Iraq and its impact on the human rights and security situation. After consulting with the Iraq COI Network, the terms of reference of the report were drafted and subsequently modified due to the complexity of the topic, as well as the need to include additional aspects such as honour and affiliation to ISIL, in order to present a more balanced and comprehensive account of the reality of the situation in Iraq. The report was initially co-drafted with Finland, and following the amendment of the terms of refence, was completed internally and published in April 2023.
How does this report fit in the general EUAA and international protection mandate?
The information provided in the report can be regarded as complementary to that of the standard COI reports: “Iraq – Targeting of Individuals” and “Iraq – Security Situation”, both published in January 2022. Those two reports provide relevant context information in view of the assessment of international protection status determination, including refugee status and subsidiary protection and, in particular, for use when developing EUAA Country Guidance on Iraq.
Who are the target audiences?
As is the case with every COI report, the target audiences for these thematic reports are mainly COI researchers and asylum case workers within the EU+ national administrations, as well as any other decision-makers who need updated COI in the context of assessing international protection needs.