Minority communities in Iraq have been targeted by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in a systematic strategy to remove them permanently from large areas of Iraq, says a group of human rights organizations in a report launched in Brussels today at the International Press Center.

The report provides critical information on the legal basis for war crimes prosecutions and follows a hearing on religious minorities in the European Parliament.

‘Between the Millstones:  Iraq’s Minorities Since the Fall of Mosul’ is a joint report of the Institute of International Law and Human Rights (IILHR), Minority Rights Group International (MRG), No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO)  focusing on the Christians, Kaka’i, Shebak, Turkmen and Yezidi – who have been most affected by the conflict. It is a product of field visits to camps and informal settlements in Northern Iraq and Baghdad, research and analysis, and interviews with key leaders and experts who include minority leaders, civil society representatives, members of the Iraqi parliament and senior Iraqi government officials, members of the international community and humanitarian organizations, and others.

‘While military action against ISIS dominates the headlines, to date there has been no serious effort to bring the perpetrators of crimes against minorities to justice,’ says William Spencer, Director of IILHR. ‘Minorities were first caught by wholesale discrimination and violence well before the arrival of ISIS. Now they face a new threat to their existence from ISIS attacks.’

Of more than 2 million people displaced since January 2014, a disproportionate number are from ethnic and religious minorities, including Assyrians, Kaka’i, Shabak, Turkmen and Yezidis.

‘Many minority communities continue to live under the threat of mass killing in Iraq,’ says Mays Al-Juboori, Civilian Rights Officer at MRG.

‘The lack of an effective response from the government has left many displaced minorities without adequate food, water, health care, shelter and other needs, with women and children especially vulnerable,’ stresses Johanna Green, Programme Manager at UNPO. ‘With a looming humanitarian calamity, practical steps to help the millions affected are now urgent.’

The report contains practical recommendations to alleviate the immediate humanitarian crisis and bring about comprehensive legal and social reform to end longstanding marginalization of minorities.

The report combines eye-witness accounts by members of minorities with legal analysis.

‘The research done for this report shows very clearly that ISIS has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and even genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in northern Iraq,’ adds Alison Smith, Legal Counsel of NPWJ. ‘These atrocities cannot go unremarked and unaddressed; the Iraqi Government and the international community have to obtain accountability and redress for the victims.’

• Download the report (pdf format): English, Arabic

Notes to editors
The findings of the report were presented at the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament at its 26 February 2015 session. This was followed by a launch event on 27 February at 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. (GMT) in “Room Passage”, International Press Center at the Residence Palace Building, 155, rue de la Loi – Blok C 1040 Brussels.

Press coverage

• Islamic State: Iraq minorities ‘threatened with eradication’, BBC News, 27 February 2015
• Islamic State aims to eradicate Iraq minorities – rights groups, By Kieran Guilbert, REUTERS, 27 February 2015
• Religious minorities at risk in the Middle East: “Death has become something banal”, European Parliament News, 27 February 2015
• ONG alertan de que el Estado Islámico atenta contra las minorías para erradicar la diversidad religiosa de Iraq, Europa Press, 26 Febrero 2015
• Libertà religiosa: Parlamento UE, allarme per cristiani e altre minoranze in medio oriente, Sir Europa – Bruxelles, 26 febbraio 2015

Interview opportunities:

• William Spencer, Director of the Institute of International Law and Human Rights (IILHR), lead author of the report, M: +1 202 365 1124
• Alison Smith, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), M: +32 2 548 39 12 – E: asmith@npwj.org
• Johanna Green, The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
• Mark Lattimer, Director, Minority Rights Group International (MRG), M: +44 7970 651342
• Pascale Esho Warder, Director, Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation and former Minister of Refugees in the Iraqi Interim government (English, Arabic) – M: +964 7702466002 – E: pascalewarda@gmail.com

For more information or to arrange interviews with local contacts, please contact:
Bernadett Sebály – MRG Press Office
M: +3670 217 2601 – E: bernadett.sebaly@mrgmail.org
Nicola Giovannini, NPWJ Press Office
Email:  ngiovannini@npwj.org – Tel: + 32 2 548 39 15 – W: www.npwj.org