UN warns of human rights abuses in Iraqi city
Head of the UN’s human rights programme, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said reports have emerged that suggest those fleeing the Iraqi city of Falluja are facing physical abuse, and in some cases, death. Al-Hussein said: “There are extremely distressing, credible reports that some people who survive the terrifying experience of escaping from Isil, then face severe physical abuse once they reach the other side.” Eyewitness accounts suggest that armed groups backing the country’s security forces have been abusing men and teenage boys escaping the ISIS-held city. While acknowledging a need to vet those escaping the city to ensure that they did not pose a wider security threat, Al-Hussein argued that the authorities or officially designated personnel should be the ones responsible for this process. He called on the government to show its commitment to protecting Iraqi citizens by fully investigating the reports.

The UN human rights chief has said there are “extremely distressing, credible reports” that Iraqis fleeing Falluja are facing physical abuse and even death as they escape the city held by Islamic State militants.

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein cited witness accounts that armed groups backing Iraqi security forces have detained a number of men and teenage boys leaving Falluja and have used force that at times “degenerates” into abuse. The city in al-Anbar province is about 40 miles (70km) west of Baghdad.

“There are extremely distressing, credible reports that some people who survive the terrifying experience of escaping from Isil, then face severe physical abuse once they reach the other side,” he said on Tuesday, using another name for Isis.

Hussein acknowledged Iraqi forces had a “legitimate interest in vetting individuals fleeing Isil-controlled areas” to make sure they did not pose a security risk, but said it should be the authorities or officially designated personnel who carried out the process.

He said those fleeing must be presumed to be civilians, barring “clear and cogent evidence to the contrary”, and urged the Iraqi government to take steps to bring to account anyone violating rights.

“The government must show its commitment to protecting civilians by fully investigating reports that people who have suffered two and half years of living hell under Isil, and have faced enormous difficulties and dangers getting out of Falluja alive, are now facing double jeopardy in the form of serious human rights violations after they have escaped,” Zeid said.

Militia forces, known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, are one of several different groups participating in an operation to retake Falluja from Isis. The have been allegations of human rights violations by both sides during the offensive.

Hundreds of civilians, many bearing marks of torture, were released on Monday north of Falluja after being detained by a group of government-sanctioned, mostly Shia militias. Five of those detained died while being held, according to Yahya al-Muhamadi, a member of Anbar council who works with displaced civilians.

Inside the centre of Falluja, Isis fighters are holding about 50,000 civilians captive and reportedly shot at a group attempting to flee on Sunday across the Euphrates river, according to an international aid organisation and the Iraqi military.

The operation to retake Falluja from Isis was launched in May. Iraqi counter-terrorism troops began their push into the centre of the city last week and secured the southern edge on Sunday.