Syria: UN denounces abuses committed against civilians and Kurds
Plumes of smoke rise from the village of Jabal al-Zawiya in the Idlib region following a bombardment by Syrian government forces on September 15.
OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The UN commission of inquiry on Syria has just delivered its 21st report.
It covers the first 6 months of 2020. The commission mentions possible new crimes against humanity committed by the allies of Bashar al-Assad.
But also the atrocities in the Kurdish regions controlled by Turkey.
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With our correspondent in Geneva,
Jérémie Lanche
The commission focused this time on regions which are not at the heart of the fighting.
This is the case in areas under government control where enforced disappearances, torture and murder in places of detention are still established as state policy.
The situation is also dramatic in rebel areas where civilians have become prime targets.
“
The type of attacks has changed,”
explains Hanny Megally, one of the members of the commission.
We see a lot more individual attacks, targeted assassinations, people kidnapped in exchange for ransom or attacks that aim to silence critical voices ... One of the reasons is the struggle being waged the armed groups for the control of Idleb, which is the last province which still escapes the control of the government
”.
Turkey also targeted
But the report also insists on the atrocities committed in Kurdish territory by the Syrian auxiliaries of the Turkish army.
Guilty in particular, according to the rapporteurs, of looting and rape.
They would be steadily increasing.
Turkey is not directly accused.
But the commission suggests that by leaving a free hand to militias linked to it, Ankara has failed in its obligations under international law.
►Also listen: Geopolitics, the debate - Syria: 20 years in power for Bashar al-Assad
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