Acknowledgments

Samer Muscati, researcher in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of Human Rights Watch, and Peter Bouckaert, director of the Emergencies Program, authored this report based on research they conducted in northern Iraq in February and March 2009. Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Division, and Ian Gorvin, senior program officer in the Program Office, edited the report. Clive Baldwin, senior legal advisor, provided legal review. Amr Khairy, Arabic language website and translation coordinator, provided assistance with translation into Arabic. Rana Rizk and Bassier Ali, interns for the MENA Division and the Emergencies Program, respectively, assisted with research. Brent Giannotta, MENA Division associate, prepared this report for publication. Additional production assistance was provided by Grace Choi, publications director, and Fitzroy Hepkins, mail manager.