Human rights abuses by the Iraqi insurgency
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Hostage taking of civilians ("protected persons" in the Hague and Geneva Conventions) of various nationalities, including the murder and mutilation of the bodies of some, has been a regular practice of some insurgents. Two hostages, Nick Berg and Kim Sun-il were apparently beheaded by their captors (see below). There have also been bombings targeting civilians, including bombings of mosques full of worshipers.
There has also been a wave of kidnappings of Iraqis, usually from wealthier backgrounds, for ransom on a regular basis. For example, more than 100 doctors have been kidnapped and ransomed. Although these kidnappings are largely unreported in the Western media, they are far more common than the kidnappings of Western victims. It is not clear who is behind these kidnappings, but they are usually carried out in a very professional manner, and many observers believe that criminal gangs are responsible, or perhaps militia in order to secure funding. During the chaos in the weeks and months that followed the invasion, Iraqi women and girls were abducted at high frequency, gang-raped and often killed. This type of crime was very rare under Saddam Hussein, and its increase may have been a consequence of him releasing all prisoners just prior to the invasion.
Religious militias have been known to murder liquor store owners and their customers, or to publicly whip them and parade them through streets.
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[edit] Assassination of Academics
There have been reports of the systematic killing of university lecturers. [1], [2]. Some have been victims of simple robberies while a few may have victims of revenge killings due to grudges dating back to the time of Ba'ath rule. Several have been targeted directly after criticizing the armed insurgency suggesting they may be responsible. Iraqi academics fear that the effect may be the stifling of moderate voices needed for building a democracy. However many academics regard these risks minor compared with what they faced under the Ba'ath regime. [3]
[edit] Assassination and targeting of Trades Unionists
Hadi Saleh was assassinated on 4th January 2005. Though no group claimed responsibility the method of execution pointed to members of the Baathist resistance.[4].
[edit] Assassination of political activists and leaders
Wadhah Hassan Abdul Amir, an Iraqi communist and member of the Interim National Assembly, was killed along with two other communists when their car was stopped by an armed militia while traveling between Baghdad and Kirkuk on 13 November 2004. [5]
[edit] Nick Berg
On May 11, 2004, a video appeared on the Internet generally believed to show an Islamic militant group beheading captured American civilian Nick Berg. Some contend this shows the kind of monster the US is fighting in the war on terror; others contend it's a comparatively minor issue with a tangled back story that distracts from the mounting abuse scandal.
The killing and mutilation have been widely denounced by Muslim leaders in Iraq and elsewhere as contrary to Islamic law and harmful to the Iraqi cause.
[edit] Kim Sun-il
The group Jama'at al-Tawhid and Jihad, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, accused by the United States of America of links to al Qaida, threatened to kill a South Korean hostage, Kim Sun-il, unless South Korea agreed not to send more troops to Iraq. The group initially set a June 21, 2004 deadline in a videotape which showed Kim Sun-il pleading for his life.
On June 22, after initial reports that the militants had given their hostage more time, Al Jazeera television reported that they had received a videotape showing that Kim Sun-il had been executed.
[edit] Angelo de la Cruz
Similar to the Nick Berg case, a Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz was abducted and threatened with beheading. In response, the Philippines withdrew all troops from Iraq and de la Cruz was freed.
[edit] Eugene Armstrong
Eugene Armstrong was an engineer who went to Iraq and was kidnapped and beheaded by Tawhid and Jihad on September 20, 2004.
[edit] Jack Hensley
Jack Hensley was an engineer who went to Iraq and was kidnapped and beheaded by Tawhid and Jihad on September 21, 2004.
[edit] Fabrizio Quattrocchi
Fabrizio Quattrocchi was an Italian security guard kidnapped and shot dead in Iraq on April 15, 2004.
[edit] Shosei Koda
Shosei Koda was a Japanese young man who traveled globally. He reportedly decided to visit Iraq in order to see the country for himself. He was later kidnapped, shown on television asking his country to withdraw troops (which the government unequivocally refused to do), and was later found dead and decapitated.
[edit] Jan 2005 elections
Due to threats from insurgents to "wash the streets with the blood of those campaigning in these elections" candidates were often afraid even to allow their names to be publicly known (BBC radio 4 six o'clock news 27th Jan 05) The same report described how several polling stations had been attacked with bombs mortars and rockets.
The BBC (radio 4 six o-clock news 28th Jan) reported on the fear amongst voters in the face of intimidation from insurgents. Voters were reported to be intending to wait and listen for explosions before deciding to vote.
On the PM program (Radio 4 BBC 28th Jan) an Iraqi voter was interviewed by Hugh Sykes:
- Iraqi: "I'm afraid but I'll do"
- HS:"You're afraid but you're going to vote?"
- Iraqi:"Yeah I will because it's my right and I want it."
BBC Radio 4 14:00 news bulletin reported that 5 civilians and 3 Iraqi soldiers had been killed in a suicide bombing near a polling station north east of Baghdad. The BBC also reported that militants have threatened to behead anyone who participates in the poll.
