Iraq: UN reports rights violations of increasingly sectarian nature
The report, produced jointly by the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, covers the period from Sept. 11 to Dec. 10, 2014.
It documents serious violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights perpetrated over a three-month period by ISIS.
These include killings of civilians, abductions, rapes, slavery and trafficking of women and children, forced recruitment of children, destruction of places of religious or cultural significance, looting and the denial of fundamental freedoms, among others.
The report also details the murder of captured members of Iraqi security forces and of people suspected of being associated with the Iraqi government by ISIS.
Individuals suspected of being disloyal to ISIS, including religious, community and tribal leaders, journalists, doctors as well as female community and political leaders, have been particularly targeted. During the reporting period, at least 165 executions were carried out following sentences by so-called “courts” in ISIS-controlled areas.
“Many of the violations and abuses perpetrated by ISIL may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide,” the report notes.
The report also notes that the number of civilians who have died from the secondary effects of violence, including the lack of access to food, water or medical care, remains unknown.
Large numbers remained trapped or displaced in areas under the control of ISIS during the reporting period, with limited access to humanitarian assistance.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.