By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On October 20, the Iraqi Ministry of Health released a report concluding that eighty five thousand Iraqis were killed from 2004 to 2008. The report marks the first time since the beginning of the war that the Iraqi government attempted to estimate the number of dead. The estimate includes violent deaths of military, police and civilians, but fails to account for foreigners killed violently since the beginning of the war.

Previous attempts to estimate the number of Iraqis killed were controversial. Estimates produced earlier using a number of different methods put the number dead between one hundred thousand and half a million.

According to the ministry’s report, the number of dead includes over twelve hundred children and twenty three hundred women. Also among the killed are over two hundred fifty professors, twenty judges, ninety lawyers and two hundred sixty journalists. It is believed that these professions were specifically targeted when the country descended into chaos. Fifteen thousand unidentified bodies that have been found since 2004 were also included.

The current report does not account for the first few months of the U.S. led incursion into the country. There was no functioning government in the country at the time to count Iraqi deaths. The report additionally does not account from the number of missing Iraqis. Estimates put that number close to ten thousand individuals.

The report comes at a time where there has been a spike in the violence in Iraq. The Iraqi government blamed the increase on their neighboring countries, Iran and Syria. They accused Syria of harboring former Iraqi Baathists while the United States claims that Iran has been funding, arming and training armed groups in Iraq.

The Iraqi foreign minister has urged the countries to cease their operations within the country. Also, the human rights minister, Wijdan Salim, said, “”They need to stop interfering and stop the terrorism from entering Iraq by their borders.”

Despite the report and alleged interference from neighboring countries, Salim remains optimistic that the situation in Iraq will improve. He remains hopeful that “2010 will be better than now.”

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times – 85,000 Iraqis Killed In Almost 5 Years Of War, Baghdad Says – 15 October 2009

AFP – More Than 85,000 Iraqis Killed From 2004-2008: Ministry – 14 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Iraq Releases New Death Toll Figure – 14 October 2009

BBC – Iraq Says 85,000 Violently Killed – 14 October 2009

Reuters – Iraq Rights Ministry Says 85,000 Killed In 2004-08 – 13 October 2009

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – A Yemeni court has sentenced 10 Huthi fighters to death and has jailed at least five others after a trial in the capital Sa’na. The fighters were sentenced to death on Tuesday for “associating with an armed group for criminal purposes, creating an organized terrorist group and resistance to the authorities.” The official SABA news agency reported the sentences given convicted members of the Huthi insurgency in the country’s north came one day after Huthu leader Al-Mohatwari was sentenced to death and 10 of this followers received jail terms ranging from 8 to 10 years.

The fighters were captured during clashes in Bani Husheish located about 30 kilometers from Sa’na between March and June 2008. A defense lawyer speaking to the AFP stated appeals had been lodged  on behalf of two members of the group, but that the 13 others refused to appeal on the grounds that they did not recognize the courts legitimacy.

Battles between Yemeni forces and Huti rebels have raged intermittently for five years. Operation Scorched earth was launched by the Yemeni government this seen and has seen a fierce escalation of hostilities in the region. Human Rights Watch has accused both the Yemeni government and rebel forces of endangering civilian life during the fighting.

For more information please see:

UPI – 10 Yemen Insurgents Draw Death Sentences – 21 October 2009

CNN – Yemen ‘Rebels’ Given Death Penalty – 21 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Yemen Fighters Sentenced to Death – 21 October 2009

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

GENEVA, Switzerland – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) voted on October 16 to officially endorse a report investigating the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas fighters in Gaza during the winter of 2008. Twenty-five countries voted for the endorsement, while six voted against it.

 

The United States was one of the countries who voted against the endorsement, arguing that adopting the report would set back progress on peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Britain and France did not vote, each said it had requested more time to work out a compromise resolution.

 

There were sharply differing views of the endorsement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had originally called for a delay of the vote, but changed his position after public outcry in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, praised the endorsement and said that the Palestinian Authority’s goal was to implement justice for those accountable for crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

 

As Mansour is appointed by President Abbas and the Fatah party, however, it remains unclear how influential Mansour’s sentiments will be. Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, was also criticized in the Goldstone Report for attacking Israeli civilians. Hamas released a statement saying that it supported the UN endorsement, but did not specifically address any charges against the party.

 

Israeli officials have expressed varying sentiments on the UN endorsement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would make sure the report was vetoed at the UN General Assembly.

 

“It’s going to the UN,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said about the report to his Likud Party. “We’ll make sure it gets vetoed.”

 

Other Israeli officials were more conciliatory. The Justice Ministry and Foreign Ministry have expressed support in establishing an investigation into the Goldstone Report’s allegations of war crimes, saying an official inquiry would help Israel combat the report. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he would not rule out an internal inquiry, but wanted to ensure that such an investigation would not tarnish either Israel’s existing investigative bodies or the prosecutors in the Israeli Defense Forces.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Cabinet Likely to Discuss Probing Goldstone Gaza Report Findings – 19 October 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – Council of Ministers Welcomes UNHRC Adoption of Goldstone, Pushes for Follow-Up, End to Settlements – 19 October 2009

 

BBC News – UN Backs Gaza “War Crimes” Report – 16 October 2009

 

New York Times – UN Council Endorses Gaza Report – 16 October 2009

 

Human Rights Watch – UN Security Council: Demand Justice for Gaza Victims – 12 October 2009

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Shi’ite rebels in Northern Yemen have accused Saudi forces of firing into a border town on October 19 in support of the Yemeni government’s offensive against them. The al-Huthi rebels, who claim they are fighting political, economic and religious marginalization, have often accused Sunni-power Saudi Arabia of fighting on the side of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Rebels issued a statement saying “the Saudi forces near the Hasama border region hit the Hasama market with heavy machinegun fire while the market was full of people.” They further stated “this reveals the increasing Saudi interference in Yemen’s internal affairs.”

A security official denied that Saudi forces have fired on Hasama and said Saudi Arabia had no role in the war. Saudi concerns stem from the fear that the conflict in Yemen’s northern province and separatist’s movement in the south will enable al Qaeda to establish a stronger foothold in the Arabian Peninsula state. Yemeni and Saudi al Qaeda militants said earlier this year that they had joined forces. Al Qaeda-linked militants have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Yemen since 2007

In an interview with Saudi-owned MBC television, Yemeni president Saleh said Saudi Arabia backed Yemeni unity but did not interfere. Saleh continued vowing to crush the rebels, who he said last week would be defeated within days and accused al Qaeda, a Sunni group, of backing the Huthis.

The fighting has and continues to displace thousands of civilians in the area. A Yemeni based UN refugee officer, Andrew Knight, said about 65,000 displaced people are in the northwestern province of Hajjah and in estimated 55,000 are still living in Sa’da, mostly in abandoned buildings, in the mountains, and on roadsides in the war zone.

For more information please see:

PressTV – Saudi Fire ‘Hits” Market in North Yemen – 19 October 2009

Reuters – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009

Khaleej Times – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009

On June 27, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out two operations in Gaza, one in Gaza City and the other in the southern city of Khan Younis.  The IDF states that the purpose of the incursions was to disrupt the terrorist infrastructure inside Gaza by finding and seizing militants and their weapons.  The incursions consisted of air strikes, as well a ground assault led by tanks.  The IDF claims that it “hit” 15 militants, while the media reports that 11 militants were killed, along with 2 civilians.  In addition, 40 people were injured, some in critical condition, and several dozens were arrested.  IDF reported that two soldiers were injured in these operations.