Revenge attacks feared between different communities as Mosul violence unfolds

Published October 18th, 2016 - 08:00 GMT
Iraqi refugees arriving in Erbil from Mosul. (AFP/File)
Iraqi refugees arriving in Erbil from Mosul. (AFP/File)

Shia paramilitary groups and Iraqi government forces have carried out revenge attacks on Sunni Arabs suspected of supporting Daesh, that's according to Amnesty International.

In its new report the agency says the attacks amount to war crimes.

The publication called 'Punished for Daesh's crimes': Displaced Iraqis abused by militias and government forces, exposes a backlash against civilians fleeing Daesh-held territory. It's based on over 470 witness statements from survivors and aid workers.

The rights group has accused paramilitary groups and government forces on one occasion of rounding up thousands of older boys and men who were then tortured, forcibly disappeared or extrajudicially executed.

Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International Iraq researcher said:

"Amnesty International is asking the international community, particularly states that provide support to the Iraqi authorities in their battle against ISIL not to turn blind eye on the systematic violations and war crimes that we have seen in the past two years."

The human rights agency says its raising the alarm now as the military operation to recapture the Daesh-held city of Mosul gets underway.

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