Amnesty International Report: Shiite Militias Commit Abuses Against Sunni Civilians in Iraq
A report issued by Amnesty International accused Iraqi Shiite militias of committing serious abuses against Sunni civilians, including kidnappings and killings during the past few months.
The report stated that the armed militias claiming to fight the Islamic State organization (ISIS) receive direct support from the Iraqi government, including weapons and legal immunity.
Government Silence and Documented Abuses
Although Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who assumed office the previous month, acknowledged that abuses had been committed by the security forces, he did not directly comment on the findings of the international organization’s report.
In an earlier statement, al-Abadi said that Iraq was fighting an “existential battle” against ISIS and called for addressing what he described as the “legitimate grievances” of the Iraqi people, in a clear reference to the Sunni community.
Shocking Details: Executions and Mass Abductions
The report was based on field interviews conducted by Amnesty International in Baghdad, Samarra, and Kirkuk during August and September. The organization documented the discovery of dozens of unidentified bodies that were found with their hands tied and gunshot wounds to the head, suggesting that they had been subjected to summary executions.
The organization reported that Shiite militias abducted hundreds of members of the Sunni community in the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad. They included more than 30 people who were abducted from their homes or nearby before their bodies were found dumped in areas close to where they had been taken.
“Blind Revenge” and Militias Beyond Control
The report identified the most prominent Shiite militias involved as:
- Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq
- Badr Brigades
- Mahdi Army
- Kata’ib Hezbollah
The organization confirmed that these militias had grown stronger during the fighting against ISIS and that tens of thousands of their members wore Iraqi army uniforms without adhering to military standards or operating under a clearly defined official command.
The report quoted an Iraqi official, who declined to be identified, as saying: “The militias often abduct Sunni citizens because it is easier to accuse them of terrorism, and no party can intervene to stop these abuses.”
Another official said: “Sunni men are viewed as supporters of terrorism simply because they are Sunni, and many of them have fallen victim to blind sectarian revenge.”
Urgent Call to the Iraqi Government
Amnesty International called on the Iraqi government to take immediate action to stop these abuses and enforce the rule of law, stating that the continuation of such acts reinforces sectarian discrimination and undermines the stability of the state.
