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U.N. Investigators Cite Atrocities in Syria U.N. Investigators Cite Atrocities in Syria
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — As Western and regional powers prepared to step up the fight against Sunni militants of the Islamic State, United Nations investigators presented details Tuesday of more atrocities committed by Islamic extremists and the government in Syria, warning that there could be no battlefield solution to the “madness” in the civil war there.GENEVA — As Western and regional powers prepared to step up the fight against Sunni militants of the Islamic State, United Nations investigators presented details Tuesday of more atrocities committed by Islamic extremists and the government in Syria, warning that there could be no battlefield solution to the “madness” in the civil war there.
“I have run out of words to depict the gravity of the crimes committed inside Syria,” Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, chairman of the four-person United Nations panel told the Human Rights Council in Geneva, presenting their eighth report in three years.“I have run out of words to depict the gravity of the crimes committed inside Syria,” Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, chairman of the four-person United Nations panel told the Human Rights Council in Geneva, presenting their eighth report in three years.
In addition to the killing of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven J. Sotloff, and a British aid worker, David Cawthorne Haines, the Islamic State “has continued to subject scores of Syrians to the same fate in public squares in the north and east of the country,” Mr. Pinheiro told the council, describing the terror of communities in large swaths of Syria that it controls.In addition to the killing of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven J. Sotloff, and a British aid worker, David Cawthorne Haines, the Islamic State “has continued to subject scores of Syrians to the same fate in public squares in the north and east of the country,” Mr. Pinheiro told the council, describing the terror of communities in large swaths of Syria that it controls.
The jihadist group massacred civilians at the Shaar gas fields in Homs Province, killed hundreds of captured soldiers in Raqqa in the northeast in July and August and reportedly killed hundreds of members of the Sheitat tribe in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, Mr. Pinheiro said.The jihadist group massacred civilians at the Shaar gas fields in Homs Province, killed hundreds of captured soldiers in Raqqa in the northeast in July and August and reportedly killed hundreds of members of the Sheitat tribe in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, Mr. Pinheiro said.
“Children are encouraged to attend executions,” he said, describing systematic exposure to violence. “Later they wander past corpses displayed on crucifixes in public squares.” Women were banned from public life, stoned to death after being accused of adultery, or lashed for being seen in public without a male relative or with their heads uncovered, he said. Girls’ education has been curtailed and early marriage is on the rise, he added. “Children are encouraged to attend executions,” he said, describing systematic exposure to violence. “Later they wander past corpses displayed on crucifixes in public squares.” Women have been banned from public life and stoned to death after being accused of adultery, or lashed for being seen in public without a male relative or with their heads uncovered, he said. Girls’ education has been curtailed and early marriage is on the rise, he added.
“If you want to know what effect this war has had you must listen to its victims,” he said, submitting a separate 17-page report with redacted testimony of a dozen Syrians recently interviewed by the panel, which said the reports revealed trends in violence and showed “few Syrians have been spared in this war.” “If you want to know what effect this war has had you must listen to its victims,” he said, submitting a separate 17-page report with the redacted testimony of a dozen Syrians recently interviewed by the panel. It revealed trends in violence and showed “few Syrians have been spared in this war.”
Despite the extremes of violence committed by Islamic militants, Mr. Pinheiro said, the Syrian government “remains responsible for the majority of the civilian casualties, killing and maiming scores of civilians daily,” describing killing “from a distance” by shelling and aerial bombardment and “up close at checkpoints and in its interrogation rooms.”Despite the extremes of violence committed by Islamic militants, Mr. Pinheiro said, the Syrian government “remains responsible for the majority of the civilian casualties, killing and maiming scores of civilians daily,” describing killing “from a distance” by shelling and aerial bombardment and “up close at checkpoints and in its interrogation rooms.”
Among the dozen statements from witnesses selected by the panel were accounts of families torn apart by shelling and former prisoners describing their torture in government detention centers and deaths of cellmates from injuries sustained during interrogation, insufficient medical care and lack of air in densely packed cells. A prisoner held in a military jail reported that severely malnourished patients had been chained, naked, two or four to a bed, without sufficient medical attention and that they were subjected to torture.Among the dozen statements from witnesses selected by the panel were accounts of families torn apart by shelling and former prisoners describing their torture in government detention centers and deaths of cellmates from injuries sustained during interrogation, insufficient medical care and lack of air in densely packed cells. A prisoner held in a military jail reported that severely malnourished patients had been chained, naked, two or four to a bed, without sufficient medical attention and that they were subjected to torture.
Women interviewed by the panel did not consent to allow publication of their accounts detailing rape and other forms of sexual abuse.Women interviewed by the panel did not consent to allow publication of their accounts detailing rape and other forms of sexual abuse.
Mr. Pinheiro recalled that the panel had repeatedly urged the United Nations Security Council and influential states to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court and to push for a political settlement. Their inaction “nourished the violence” consuming Syria, he told the Human Rights Council. “It’s most recent beneficiary is ISIS,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State. Mr. Pinheiro recalled that the panel had repeatedly urged the United Nations Security Council and influential states to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court and to push for a political settlement. Their inaction “nourished the violence” consuming Syria, he told the Human Rights Council. “Its most recent beneficiary is ISIS,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
As Western and regional powers meeting in Paris this week vowed to escalate the war on the group in Iraq and Syria, Mr. Pinheiro said its rise emphasized the need for a compromise between President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and mainstream opposition groups.As Western and regional powers meeting in Paris this week vowed to escalate the war on the group in Iraq and Syria, Mr. Pinheiro said its rise emphasized the need for a compromise between President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and mainstream opposition groups.