A/HRC/30/66
Kurdistan region of Iraq in Kirkuk to discuss the security of displaced persons in the city
and to raise the issue of alleged forced returns.
44.
UNAMI/OHCHR continuously engages with the Ministry of Human Rights and has
developed an agreed timetable for the delivery of joint technical assistance, including
training courses on human rights and humanitarian law.
45.
In early May, UNAMI/OHCHR met with the Minister for Human Rights to discuss
allegations that displaced persons from Anbar seeking refuge and protection in Baghdad
had been subjected to threats, kidnapping and killings by armed groups. Reports were also
received that displaced persons had been forcibly evicted from Baghdad and sent back to
Anbar. The Government was urged to investigate these reports and to respect fully the
rights of displaced persons to have access to areas of safety.
46.
UNAMI monitored cases of arrest and detention of internally displaced persons
attempting to reach areas of safety. Reports indicated that many, if not most, of these
detainees had been held by authorities without charge for long periods without access to
judicial review or legal representation, and their families had not been informed of their
whereabouts. UNAMI regularly monitors detention facilities to follow up on such cases and
has advocated with security forces and Government authorities to ensure that international
due process standards are respected.
4.
Ethnic and religious groups
47.
Ethnic and religious groups and minorities in Iraq have endured a history of
discrimination and violence. These communities have become more vulnerable owing to
the ongoing armed conflict and many have suffered gross violations of their human rights.
48.
ISIL has continued to target members of different ethnic and religious communities,
including Christians, Faili Kurds, Kaka’e, Sabaeans, Shabak, Shi’a Arabs, Turkmen, Yezidi
and others, intentionally subjecting them to a range of abuses and violations of international
human rights and humanitarian law. These acts appear to be part of a systematic or
widespread policy that aims to suppress, permanently expel or destroy these communities
within ISIL areas of control. ISIL continued to publish “justifications”, including its
requirement to cleanse lands under the control of its self-declared “Islamic caliphate” of
“infidels”, by forcibly converting, suppressing, expelling or killing people of other faiths or
those who do not subscribe to its takfiri doctrines. ISIL has imposed on Christians and
Sabaeans the requirement to convert to Islam, pay jezyah (a protection or toleration tax), be
expelled or be killed; for Shias to repent or face penalties (including death) as apostates;
and for Yezidi, Kaka’ee and other faith communities (which ISIL regard as infidels) to
convert to Islam or be killed. Most recently, ISIL published another “justification” for the
sexual enslavement of Yezidi women and other women from communities it regards as
kufaar (infidels) in its magazine, Dabiq.
49.
As many as 2,500 men, women and children – predominantly from the Yezidi
community but also from other groups – are being held by ISIL. UNAMI/OHCHR fears for
their safety and security. Those who have reached safety consistently report lack of basic
necessities such as food and hygienic items, forced labour, forced religious conversion, illtreatment, murder and the regular infliction of physical and sexual violence, including
sexual slavery and the trafficking of women and children.
50.
UNAMI/OHCHR has been monitoring the situation of minority groups in Iraq, and
actively working with local communities to promote respect and protection of their rights.
UNAMI met with the elected representative of minority communities in the Basra
Provincial Council and legislative staff to give advice and make recommendations on
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