The United Nations is urging the Iraqi government to stop “collective punishment” against civilians accused of having had ties to ISIS. The U.N. says family members of ISIS militants are facing forced displacement, the confiscation of their homes and the fear of retribution. This is Umm Suhaib, whose husband joined ISIS.
Umm Suhaib: “In the beginning, he had faith in them [Islamic State militants], but later he realized he was wrong, when he saw them withdrawing from east Mosul, after they had said that they would not have left and that they [Iraqi forces] could not recapture the areas. He felt their injustice, and he regretted his decision. But he could not leave, because they executed anyone who would have left them, even if it was a child. I have not heard from him for two months now. I do not know if he is buried under the rubble.”
This comes as Amnesty International says the U.S.-led coalition and the U.S.-backed Iraqi forces violated international law and may have committed war crimes during the battle to seize control of Mosul from ISIS. We’ll speak with the Amnesty International researcher later in the broadcast.