The good news: The UN has belatedly taken notice of the atrocities, ethnic cleansing, and flat-out genocides by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The bad news? They’re gearing up to take ISIS on … in court:
Islamic State insurgents in Iraq have carried out mass executions, abducted women and girls as sex slaves, and used child soldiers in what may amount to systematic war crimes that demand prosecution, the United Nations said on Thursday.
Prosecution, eh? Well, first someone has to go make some arrests. So far, no one at the UN seems willing to do so except perhaps Syria, which qualifies for a court of its own in the war-crimes department. War-crimes prosecutions follow at the end of wars, or at best during a war when the criminals get captured as the liberating armies displace and destroy the offending forces.
Talk about putting the cart ahead of the horse.
At least, though, the UN has begun cataloguing the atrocities:
Islamist forces have committed gross human rights violations and violence of an “increasing sectarian nature” against groups including Christians, Yazidis and Shi’ite Muslims in a widening conflict that has forced 1.8 million Iraqis to flee their homes, according to the 29-page report by the U.N. Human Rights Office and the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
“These include attacks directly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, executions and other targeted killings of civilians, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual and physical violence perpetrated against women and children, forced recruitment of children, destruction or desecration of places of religious or cultural significance, wanton destruction and looting of property, and denial of fundamental freedoms.” …
In August, it said, ISIL took 450-500 women and girls to the Tal Afar citadel in Iraq’s Nineveh region where “150 unmarried girls and women, predominantly from the Yazidi and Christian communities, were reportedly transported to Syria, either to be given to ISIL fighters as a reward or to be sold as sex slaves”.
The purpose of the UN was originally to stop mass genocides and atrocities such as this. What has been the action by the UN and its Security Council to intervene and put an end to ISIS and its barbarity? They conducted this investigation, and about six weeks ago they “blacklisted” ISIS figures and threatened sanctions on those who assist them. A week ago, Barack Obama presided over a unanimous vote at the UNSC to toughen laws on travel to ISIS areas by jihadis seeking to join their movement. And, that’s about it — other than demanding that Iraq join the International Criminal Court so that their own forces can also be prosecuted, too.
In better news, Turkey has approved military operations against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. They will also allow foreign forces to transit through Turkey, which they denied during the 2003 invasion of Iraq:
Turkey approves military operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq; will allow foreign forces to transit through Turkish territory – AP
— ABC News (@ABC) October 2, 2014
Turkey’s parliament approved a motion Thursday that gives the government new powers to launch military incursions into Syria and Iraq and to allow foreign forces to use its territory for possible operations against the Islamic State group.
Parliament voted 298-98 in favor of the motion which sets the legal framework for any Turkish military involvement, and for the potential use of Turkish bases by foreign troops. …
Parliament had previously approved operations into Iraq and Syria to attack Kurdish separatists or to thwart threats from the Syrian regime. Thursday’s motion expands those powers to address threats from the Islamic State militants who control a large cross-border swath of Iraq and Syria, in some parts right up to the Turkish border.
Turkey’s defense minister warned not to expect any significant military efforts right away. That may mean doom for Kobane, the Kurdish city in Syria just across the border which ISIS forces have besieged. Kurds from Turkey have joined up with Kurdish refugees from Syria to form an irregular militia to relieve Kobane, but ISIS has stepped up its offensive in response. The foreign forces may only include drones, too, so this may not change the balance on the ground any time soon.
Perhaps Turkey can let the UN police department borrow some space at one of its bases, and see how well they do in making arrests.
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