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Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq are inflicting shocking human rights violations that could amount to war crimes, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Thursday.
“The array of violations and abuses perpetrated by ISIL and associated armed groups is staggering, and many of their acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity”, he said.
His comments came after the UN monitoring mission in Iraq and Zeid’s office released a joint report on the IS’ current offensive in Iraq. The 29-page report covers the litany of violations and gross abuses of international humanitarian law from July 6th to September 10th.
The report said that the violations were being perpetrated by the IS and other associated armed groups “with an apparent systematic and widespread character”. Among the violations are attacks on civilians, executions, lootings and murder of captured government officials and soldiers.
The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq on Wednesday announced that 9,347 civilians have been killed and 17,386 people have been injured this year so far, with well over half of the casualties attacked during the IS’ sweeping march through northern Iraq in June.
The UN report also cited rape, abductions and other forms of physical and sexual violence against children and women, including forced recruitment of minors. The report also criticizes the destruction and desecration of cultural and religious sites.
Zeid also called on Iraq to become a signatory of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which would give the ICC jurisdiction to investigate the “horrendous situation” in the country.
“This type of situation, where massive gross violations and abuses are taking place, including direct targeting of many thousands of civilians because of their religious or ethnic identity, is precisely why the International Criminal Court was created”, he said.
Zeid also pointed out a letter sent to IS leaders by several senior Muslim scholars two weeks ago, and said, “It clearly states that in Islam it is forbidden to kill the innocent, or to kill emissaries, ambassadors and diplomats — hence also journalists and aid workers”.
“Torture and the re-introduction of slavery are also forbidden, as are forcible conversion, the denial of rights to women and a multitude of other acts”.