Urgent Appeal to International Committee of Red Cross ( ICRC ) and United Nation to stop the 3 days ongoing ethnic cleansing operations;
Three consecutive days during which Syrian Government’s Armed Forces and Shabbiha committed killings amounted to ethnic cleansing amid silence from the international community;
Dozens of women and children stabbed, shot, burned and butchered as horrifying images reveal the bodies lying on top of each other in the street (we received photos by Skype and email from an activist on the ground who collaborated with SNHR since the beginning of Syrian revolution);
Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) received frequent reports and does not accept any reasonable doubt from Banyas in the coastal region by relatives of the victims, some of them got to Tripoli in Lebanon about extrajudicial killings and executions by shooting into the homes in addition to dozens of cases of sexual violence committed by Syrian government’s armed forces during the storm of the town to the date of this report, ignoring dozens of rules of customary humanitarian law rules;
SNHR urgently appeals to the ICRC, which is, according to the International Human Rights Law (the applicable law in the Syrian conflict), has access to conflict areas in Syria;
In case Syrian Authorities are preventing the ICRC access into towns, we demand the ICRC to address the Security Council to take upon its responsibilities and hand it over from the ICRC to the United Nations and Security Council
Holding responsibilities
Hold the Syrian government fully responsible for the massacre. The continuing silence and lack of relief in the city from the international community is seen as a green light to continue the ethnic cleansing committed by Syrian Government’s Armed Forces.
Annex and attachments: Extremely horrifying images for women and children slaughtered in one of the most brutal ethnic cleansing operations in the new era:
Customary IHL Rules have been violated in Banyas by Syrian Government’s Armed Forces:
Rule 1. The parties to the conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and combatants. Attacks may only be directed against combatants. Attacks must not be directed against civilians.
Rule 2. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited.
Rule 5. Civilians are persons who are not members of the armed forces. The civilian population comprises all persons who are civilians.
Rule 6. Civilians are protected against attack, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.
Rule 7. The parties to the conflict must at all times distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks may only be directed against military objectives. Attacks must not be directed against civilian objects.
Rule 6. Civilians are protected against attack, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.
Rule 7. The parties to the conflict must at all times distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks may only be directed against military objectives. Attacks must not be directed against civilian objects.
Rule 11. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited.
Rule 53. The use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare is prohibited.
Rule 54. Attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population is prohibited.
Rule 55. The parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction, subject to their right of control.
Rule 89. Murder is prohibited.
Rule 55. The parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction, subject to their right of control.
Rule 89. Murder is prohibited.
Rule 90. Torture, cruel or inhuman treatment and outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, are prohibited.
Rule 91. Corporal punishment is prohibited.
Rule 93. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are prohibited.
Rule 134. The specific protection, health and assistance needs of women affected by armed conflict must be respected.
Rule 93. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are prohibited.
Rule 134. The specific protection, health and assistance needs of women affected by armed conflict must be respected.
Rule 135. Children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection.
Rule 138. The elderly, disabled and infirm affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection.
Rule 149. A State is responsible for violations of international humanitarian law attributable to it, including:
(a) violations committed by its organs, including its armed forces;
(b) violations committed by persons or entities it empowered to exercise elements of governmental authority;
(c) violations committed by persons or groups acting in fact on its instructions, or under its direction or control; and
(d) violations committed by private persons or groups which it acknowledges and adopts as its own conduct.
(a) violations committed by its organs, including its armed forces;
(b) violations committed by persons or entities it empowered to exercise elements of governmental authority;
(c) violations committed by persons or groups acting in fact on its instructions, or under its direction or control; and
(d) violations committed by private persons or groups which it acknowledges and adopts as its own conduct.
Rule 150. A State responsible for violations of international humanitarian law is required to make full reparation for the loss or injury caused.
