Shafaq News-Baghdad
Protectingcorruption informants from retaliation is essential to the success of Iraq’snationwide Dawn Crackdown (Sawlat al-Fajr) campaign, the Strategic Center forHuman Rights said on Monday, describing them as the “first line of defense” insafeguarding public funds.
In astatement, the center called the operation an important step towardstrengthening the rule of law and holding those involved accountable, butstressed that sustainable results require a safe legal environment that allowscitizens and employees to report corruption “without fear of revenge, threats,or losing their jobs.”
It urgedParliament, the government, judicial authorities, and oversight bodies tocomplete legislation protecting witnesses and experts, and establish secure andconfidential reporting channels, describing such measures as consistent withthe UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
Highlightingthe role of informants in exposing bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power,the watchdog cited OECD estimates showing that nearly 43% of detected foreign corruptioncases worldwide began through individual reports or internal reporting systems. It also pointed to Federal Integrity Commission data showing that Iraqi authoritieshave received thousands of corruption reports in recent years, referred manysuspects to the judiciary, and carried out operations to recover stolen fundsinside and outside the country.
On June 28,Iraqi authorities launched “Dawn Crackdown,” a nationwide anti-corruptioncampaign under Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s direction, targeting current andformer officials, lawmakers, politicians, business owners, ministers,directors-general, provincial governors, and other suspects.
The Councilof Ministers ordered investigative committees on July 4 to completecorruption-related cases within 60 days. It also urged citizens to reportpublic assets and funds obtained through corruption and directed authorities toprovide financial rewards for informants in accordance with the law.
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