A/HRC/22/59
26.
One of those interviewed was a survivor of a killing at a factory in an area of
Damascus predominantly populated by Christians. He indicated that the vast majority of the
factory’s workers were Christian. On 3 September, he and the other workers were on the
factory floor when “20 armed men with their faces covered… broke into the room with
Kalashnikovs”. The men were dressed in civilian clothes. One of the armed men shouted
“we know who you are and which region you come from. We ask you to leave this factory
and your region. Otherwise you will be in danger.” The factory’s director came on to the
floor and was shot dead by one of the armed men, who then left. The interviewee believes
that the workers of the factory were targeted specifically because of their religious
affiliation. He never returned to factory and fled Syria shortly afterwards.
Dara’a
27.
Two interviewees, both from FSA-affiliated groups, provided accounts of killings
which their particular groups had perpetrated. One detailed the execution of proGovernment Sunnis by the Al-Omari brigade in villages outside of Dara’a city.
28.
The second stated that he was part of a group operating in a town 10 kilometres
north of Dara’a city. He stated that he and six other fighters captured six Iranians who
“under interrogation” stated that they were members of the Republican Guard there to fight
“foreign terrorists” on behalf of the Government. The interviewee stated that two of the
captives were killed when they tried to seize weapons in order to escape. The remaining
four were later reportedly exchanged for FSA prisoners. The killing of captives attempting
an armed escape would be considered lawful. Investigations into this incident are on-going.
Homs
29.
One interviewee, who joined the Al-Nusra Front in April, described the overrunning
of an army checkpoint in a hospital in western Homs governorate. Two soldiers were left
wounded while others were abducted. In relation to the soldiers wounded in the attack, he
stated “I don’t care, they were only two and we left them to die. We had no possibility to
take them, and they killed others so they deserve to die”. The abducted soldiers were taken
before a tribunal which would have passed sentence. The interviewee did not know the
sentence passed in this instance but stated they would only have been executed if they had
been found guilty of killing civilians.
30.
Customary international law requires that the wounded receive, to the fullest extent
practicable and with the least possible delay, the medical care and attention required by
their condition. No distinction may be made on any grounds other than medical ones. That
the wounded soldiers were left to die, and that no one was called to administer aid to them –
in the event that the fighters were unable to take them to their field hospital – may
constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. This interviewee provides no
account of any specific deaths and consequently, there is insufficient evidence to make a
finding related to any killings.
Dayr az Zawr
31.
Two FSA members confirmed the existence of interrogation committees and a
tribunal in Dayr az Zawr. They stated that only those convicted of “serious crimes” would
be executed on order of the council. One interviewee confirmed that during interrogations,
confessions were beaten out of detainees. He is aware of four recent executions, those of
58
GE.13-10627
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