Iraq: Pillay warns of “acute vulnerability” of civilians caught in cross-fire, targeted in attacks or trapped in ISIL-controlled areas -- DisplayNews
Iraq: Pillay warns of “acute vulnerability” of civilians caught in cross-fire, targeted in attacks or trapped in ISIL-controlled areas
GENEVA (13 June 2014) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday expressed extreme alarm at the dramatic deterioration of the situation in Iraq, amid reports of summary executions and extrajudicial killings, and the massive displacement of some half a million people, as the forces allied with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), overran a succession of major towns and cities earlier in the week.
“The full extent of civilian casualties is not yet known,” Pillay said, “but reports suggest the number of people killed in recent days may run into the hundreds, and the number of wounded is said to be approaching 1,000.” She said she was deeply disturbed by reports that “ISlL fighters, including prisoners they had released from jails in Mosul and provided with arms, have been actively seeking out -- and in some cases killing -- soldiers, police and others, including civilians, whom they perceive as being associated with the Government. We have, for example, received reports of the summary executions of Iraqi army soldiers during the capture of Mosul, and of 17 civilians on one particular street in Mosul City on 11 June.”
The UN human rights chief warned the parties to the conflict that they are obliged under international law to treat humanely members of armed forces who have laid down their arms, or are hors de combat. She also stressed that, under these circumstances, murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture constitute war crimes. They must also take all feasible precautions, in areas under their effective control, to spare civilians from the effects of hostilities, and to respect, protect and meet the basic needs of civilian populations.
“I am extremely concerned about the acute vulnerability of civilians caught in the cross-fire, or targeted in direct attacks by armed groups, or trapped in areas under the control of ISIL and their allies,” Pillay said. “And I am especially concerned about the risk to vulnerable groups, minorities, women and children.”
“I call for the immediate cessation of acts of violence and abuses committed against civilians in violation of applicable international humanitarian law, which governs the conduct of conflicts, and international human rights law which applies during time of war and peace,” the High Commissioner said.
“There will be particular scrutiny of the conduct of ISIL, given their well-documented record of committing grave international crimes in Syria,” she added, noting that the Commission of Inquiry on Syria has, as recently as March this year, accused ISIL of committing crimes against humanity, in addition to other gross human rights violations, in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo.
