UN calls for probe into disappearance 1,000 Sunni Arabs by Iraqi gov’t forces

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations on Sunday called for an independent investigation to establish the fate of approximately 1,000 civilian men and boys who disappeared during Iraq's military operations against the so-called Islamic State in Anbar province between 2015 and 2016.

This came in a report on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), with the focus being Anbar.

The UN report said that following inquiries, it "has reasonable grounds to believe that during military operations in Anbar governorate in 2015 and 2016, pro-Government forces subjected at least 1,000 mostly Sunni Arab men and boys to enforced disappearance and related violations."

The violations include "extrajudicial execution, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention."

"UNAMI/OHCHR also received credible allegations of enforced disappearances from several other governorates, including Ninewa, Kirkuk, Diyala, Salah al-Din, Babil and Baghdad," Danielle Bell, Chief of UNAMI Human Rights Office and Iraq Representative of the OHCHR, told Kurdistan 24.

"This report focuses on Anbar as a case study, in order to provide contextual detail on one governorate with a particularly severe scale and scope of allegations of enforced disappearances, as a means of prompting remedial action countrywide."

It's the first UN report that focuses on enforced disappearances allegedly perpetrated by pro-government forces during operations against the Islamic State. The UN submitted it to the Iraqi government in advance of its publication, and "we hope that this report will encourage renewed efforts on this issue," Bell said.

The report was also submitted to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in advance of its 19th session, set to take place mid-September 2020.

However, the UN agency added that the report in no way detracts from the courage of those who successfully achieved the territorial defeat of ISIS, "and fully acknowledges the efforts of the Government to ensure accountability for the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL (ISIS) against the people of Iraq."

Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State in December 2017. However, the extremist group continues to launch regular attacks, including bombings, kidnappings, and ambushes against both Iraqi security forces, Kurdish forces, and civilians in areas liberated from its control as well as in major cities it never took over, such as Baghdad and Kirkuk.   

Read more: US State Dept: ISIS active in disputed territories

The UN report also said that an Iraqi government Investigation Committee on the Missing Persons established in June 2016 led by the Deputy Governor of Anbar failed to produce results.

It added that the committee's investigation seems to have been "limited to cross-checking names of the missing against a database of detained persons."

The UN report concluded in its recommendations that the Iraqi government "should launch an immediate and effective investigation to determine the fate and whereabouts of the thousands of victims of enforced disappearances, and should ensure that those responsible are held accountable."

"The recommendations are aimed at encouraging acknowledgement and redress for victims, the establishment of a strong domestic legal framework against enforced disappearances, compliance and procedural safeguards, as well as comprehensive investigations into all enforced disappearances in Anbar and other governorates, leading to accountability, including criminal prosecutions where applicable," Bell concluded.

Editing by Khrush Najari