Iraqi Civilians Pressured by Pro-Government Militias – Human Rights Watch

Iraqi civilians are being hammered by Islamic State and then by pro-government militias in areas they seize from ISIS, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) — Iraqi civilians are routinely abused not only by the Islamic State (IS) group, but also by militias allied with Iraqi security forces, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement Sunday.

“Iraqi civilians are being hammered by ISIS [IS] and then by pro-government militias in areas they seize from ISIS,” the Deputy Director of HRW's Middle East and North Africa division Joe Stork said.

Militias have driven at least 3,000 civilians out of their homes, abducted them or carried out extrajudicial executions since June 2014, the HRW reported. People, who have been forced out of their houses in northeastern Iraq, have no opportunity to come back.

Pro-governmental militants have reportedly stared pressuring local residents after the IS took over the second large city in the country, Mosul, turning it into their main stronghold in June 2014, the HRW said.

“Any effective response to ISIS should start with protecting civilian lives and holding those who abuse them to account, especially in areas where people have already suffered from ISIS occupation and attacks,” Stork added.

The IS militant group made rapid advances in Iraq last year, taking over large parts of the country and vowing to impose strict Islamic law in the controlled areas.

Iraq forces have been attempting to knock the IS out of seized territories. The United States and their allies provide assistance to Iraq by carrying out airstrikes against IS targets.