UN Human Rights Council votes ‘strongest condemnation’ over violence in Iraq

United Nations officials Monday urged an immediate end to the acts of violence and abuse committed against civilians in Iraq, as the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) met to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in her opening remark that over one million people in Iraq have been displaced by the Islamic State (IS) and associated groups.

Pansieri added that the brutal persecution of Christian, Yezidi, Turkmen, Shabak, Kaka’e, Sabaeans and Shi’a communities may amount to ethnic and religious cleansing in areas under its control.

“As I have just outlined, several groups in Iraq are intentionally and severely deprived of fundamental rights contrary to international law by reason of their ethnic and religious identity. This is a crime against humanity under international law,” she said.

During the session, the Council adopted a resolution requesting the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urgently dispatch a mission to Iraq to investigate alleged violations and abuses committed by the extremist tourist groups.

It also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” systematic violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of international humanitarian law resulting from the terrorist acts committed by IS and associated groups which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Iraqi Minister of Human Rights Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani said that the terrorists not only committed violence, but also posted violent pictures on social networks, which shows that they are far more brutal than any other terrorist group.

He urged the international community to take concerted actions to stop the situation from deteriorating.

“These groups are getting support from regional countries around Iraq, and they are infiltrating Iraq in large numbers. If there are no measures to stop them, there will be a massacre. I think the recent Security Council resolution 2170 and the draft resolution will now help Iraq to keep those groups outside of Iraq,” said Al Sudani.

China also voiced strong condemnation to the rule of the extremist terrorist groups in northern Iraq, and urged strengthening of the efforts to counter the violence under the premise of respecting Iraq’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Wu Hailong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, warned the international community of terrorist groups spreading information through Internet and social media.

“China welcomes the 2170 resolution by UN Security Council on preventing IS from using the Internet and social media to recruit members, acquire weapons and money, and we hope that the international community and UNHRC can give high attention to this matter to jointly counter cyber-terrorism,” Wu said.

Iraq has been witnessing some of the worst violence in years. Terrorism and violence have killed 5,576 civilians in Iraq in the first half of this year, with 11,666 more wounded, according to a recent UN report.