A new paper in the PHRG Journal is out: “Weaponizing Water: Forced Evictions and Ecocide in the Iraqi Marshlands.”

A new article has been published in the online first section of the journal Peace Human Rights Governance (PHRG). The paper, entitled “Weaponizing Water: Forced Evictions and Ecocide in the Iraqi Marshlands”, is authored by Issamaldeen A. Majed and examines the relationship between environmental destruction, forced displacement and human rights violations in the Iraqi Marshlands.

The article analyses the large-scale drainage of the Mesopotamian Marshes carried out during the 1990s and its impact on the Marsh Arab population. Drawing on demographic data, international reports and testimonies from affected communities, the study argues that water resources were deliberately used as a tool of control and displacement, contributing to the destruction of one of the world’s most significant wetland ecosystems.

The author explores the concept of ecocide and its relevance to the Iraqi case, highlighting how environmental degradation can have profound consequences for the enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to livelihood, culture and self-determination. The article further reflects on the need for environmental justice measures and on the importance of recognising the rights of communities affected by environmental harm.

The paper contributes to ongoing debates on the connections between environmental protection, human rights and governance, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on the consequences of environmental destruction in situations of political conflict and repression.

The article is available in the online first section of Peace Human Rights Governance (PHRG).