On January 2, 2020, at 8 p.m., Osama Al Tamimi disappeared while he was returning home from participating in and photographing a demonstration at Tahrir Square. His mobile device was then turned off.

Although Al Tamimi’s family has not yet received any information about the perpetrators responsible for his abduction, they believe he was either abducted by Iraqi security forces or by a militia acting with the authorisation, support, acquiescence or approval of the state. The rising number of similar abductions recently reported in the capital is indicative of a pattern of enforced disappearances directed against peaceful anti-government demonstrators.

On January 5, 2020, Al Tamimi’s family filed a criminal complaint against persons unknown at Jamila’s police station in Baghdad, but to no avail.

His fate and whereabouts remained unknown until January 12, 2020, when his family was informally informed that he may be detained in Al Muthana Airport Prison in Baghdad. However, when they went to the prison to inquire, the authorities denied detaining him.