Iraq: Deadly Bombings Assault On Human Rights

A series of bombings in Iraq on December 22, 2011, are an atrocious assault on basic human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks, among the deadliest in Iraq this year, killed more than 60 people and injured 185, mainly civilians.

No one has publicly claimed responsibility for the bombings, to Human Rights Watch’s knowledge. But they resemble previous bombings claimed by al Qaeda in Iraq.

“There is no justification for these horrific attacks against Iraqi civilians,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

Nine car bombs and six roadside bombs targeted residential, commercial and government districts in Baghdad over a two-hour period during the morning rush hour. The deadliest attack was a bombing outside the offices of the Integrity Commission, which damaged the building and killed 23 people.