By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Thursday United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, declared that the Islamic State has committed genocide against Yazidis, Shi’ite Muslims, and Christians in Syria and Iraq. The statement came on the deadline set last year by Congress for the Obama administration to determine whether the Islamic State’s targeting of minority religious and ethnic groups amounted to genocide.

Mr. Kerry stated, “My purpose here today is to assert in my judgment, (ISIS) is responsible for genocides against groups in areas under its control including Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’ite Muslims.” He also stated that, “Daesh is genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology, and by actions – in what it says, what it believes, and what it does.”

On Monday one chamber of the United States House of Representatives approved a unanimous resolution condemning the Islamic State for trying to eradicating minority communities. The United States is not legally obligated to take a particular action because of the finding of genocide.

Mr. Kerry stated that the Islamic State, “castigates Yazidis as, quote, ‘pagans’ and ‘devil-worshippers,’ and we know that Daesh has threatened Christians by saying it will, quote, ‘conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women.’” He continued, “ Shia Muslims, meanwhile, are referred to by Daesh, as, quote, ‘disbelievers and apostates,’ and subjected to frequent and vicious attacks.”

In August 2014, the Islamic State rounded up thousands of Yazidis living in the Nineveh plains of north-western Iraq. The men and boys over age 14 were shot, boys under the age of 14 were forced to convert to Islam and subjected to military training. Women and girls were sold or handed to Islamic State militants as gifts.

In July 2014 the Islamic State killed as many as 1,700 army recruits, most of whom were Shia Muslims, when it captured the Camp Speicher military base outside of Tikrit, a northern Iraqi city.

Christians living in the territory have been forced to chose between converting to Islam, payment of a protection tax, jizyah, or death. In February 2015 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian migrant workers in Libya were beheaded.

Mr. Kerry also stated that “Naming these crimes is important, but what is essential is to stop them.” An Israeli Yazidi activist, Mirza Dinnayi, told CNN in an e-mail, “I am very happy to hear that (the U.S.) will recognize the genocide of Yezidi and Christian minorities.” He continued, “This is an important step to stop the suffering of the prosecuted people under the control of the extremist Islamic groups, specifically ISIS. And this is also important for my community to trust the international community again, because we were left in the hands of Islamic State.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Islamic State Committed Genocide, Says US – 17 March 2016

CNN – John Kerry: ISIS Responsible for Genocide – 17 March 2016

Huffington Post – John Kerry Calls Islamic State’s Atrocities Genocide – 17 March 2016

The New York Times – Citing Atrocities, John Kerry Calls ISIS Actions Genocide – 17 March 2016

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Nearly 50 civilians were killed on Monday, as four hospital facilities were struck by missiles. The United Nations stated that the airstrikes were a blatant violation of international law.

In the town of Azaz, near the Turkish border, fourteen people were killed and another 30 were wounded, as airstrikes struck a school and the children’s hospital. Local news footage showed ambulances unloading children on stretches at the Kilis State hospital.

The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accused Russia of conducting the airstrikes that hit the hospital and school, killing children. Turkey’s foreign minister called it an “obvious war crime.” Russia denied responsibility for the attacks, stating that their country does not bomb indiscriminately and does not target civilians. The United States State Department, however, claimed the Syrian regime for the attacks.

Unicef, the United Nations children’s agency, stated, “We at Unicef are appalled by reports of attacks against four medical facilities in Syria – two of which were supported by Unicef.” It continued, “One is a child and maternal hospital where children were reportedly killed and scores evacuated.” “Apart from compelling considerations of diplomacy and obligations under international humanitarian law, let us remember that these victims are children,” Unicef continued.

Another attack occurred on Monday at Maarat al-Numan, in the Idlib province, as a Doctors Without Borders hospital was struck by missiles four times within minutes. According to Doctors Without Borders, seven people were killed with another 8 people missing and presumed dead. Of those killed, five were patients, one was a caretaker, and one was a hospital guard. The eight unaccounted for are staff members, patients also may be missing, however it is not clear how many.

Massimilian Rebaudengo, Doctors Without Borders’ head of mission, stated, “This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest terms possible.” He continued, “The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict.”

Doctors Without Borders claimed that the Syrian government was responsible for the airstrikes in the Idlib province. The Syrian ambassador to Russia accused the United States led coalition for the attacks in Idlib. The United States stated that the coalition did not conduct any military operations in the area.

Riad Hijab, the head of the high negotiations committee, stated on Sunday, “Everyday, hundreds of Syrians die from airstrikes and artillery bombardment, poison gas, cluster bombs, torture, starvation, cold and drowning.” He continued, “The Syrian people continue to live in terror and in utter despair after the international community failed to prevent even the gravest violations committed against them.”

According to Physicians for Human Rights, 697 health care workers have been killed in 336 attacks on medical sites over the course of the Syrian conflict. The vast majority of attacks are carried out by the Syrian government and its allies according to Physicians for Human Rights.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Syria: At least 22 Killed in Strikes Against 2 Hospitals, Sources Say – 16 February 2016

Reuters – Missiles in Syria Kill 50 as Schools, Hospitals Hit; Turkey Accuses Russia – 16 February 2016

Al-Jazeera America – Deadly Airstrikes Destroy Three Hospitals, School in Syria – 15 February 2016

The Guardian – Airstrikes Hit Two Syrian Hospitals, with Turkey Condemning ‘Obvious War Crimes’ – 15 February 2016

The New York Times – Syrian Hospitals Hit as Battlefield Grows More Chaotic – 15 February 2016

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 CAIRO, Egypt – On Friday, thousands of doctors protested the assault of two doctors by policemen that occurred a month ago. This was the largest demonstration in Egypt since the unauthorized protests had been banned over two years ago.

A doctor working at a hospital in Matariya last month, told a police officer that his cut didn’t require stitches. The police officer’s response was to beat up the doctor and a colleague and take the two into custody. Mamoun Hassan el-Deeb, the deputy head of the hospital, told the Associated Press that the doctors, Ahmed Abdullah and Moamen Abdel-Azzem, had been attacked by two police officers.

According to a nurse who had witnessed the incident, seven additional police officers rushed to the scene to arrest the doctors. She also reported that when one of the doctors tried to resist, he fell and the policeman stomped on his head with his boots.

According to Abdel-Azzem’s Facebook page, he initially filed an official complaint but later withdrew the complaint. Abdel-Azzem feared detention in prison once he found out that officers filed a counter-complaint accusing Abdel-Azzem of assault.

The Egyptian Medical Syndicate called for the prosecution of the police officers that were involved in the alleged assault and stated that they would protest until the officers were brought to trial. Dr. Rashwan Shaaban, the assistant secretary-general of the syndicate told Reuters, “The general assembly of the syndicate decided to escalate the situation and is organizing a protest across all hospitals on February 20.”

According to human rights groups, there is a culture of impunity across Egypt as police brutality is widespread. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights stated, “The authorities (must) end the overall impunity enjoyed by police today to prevent the constant recurrence of such incidents.”

The protests came just days after the body of Italian student, Giulio Regeni, was found at the outskirts of Cairo. According to eyewitnesses, surveillance camera footage would have revealed that two Egyptian security agents, in plain clothes, took Mr. Regeni into custody when he was last seen.

Egyptian authorities have not yet requested the footage, according to shop keepers. Human rights groups indicated that this is typical police behavior in Egypt.

According to Egyptian security officials who were interviewed, Mr Regeni was “very rude and acted like a tough guy,” and was then taken into custody. Authorities also allege that Mr. Regeni was also suspect because certain contacts on his phone were associated with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the April 6 Youth Movement. One official stated, “They figured he was a spy,” continuing, “After all, who comes to Egypt to study trade unions.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Italy Mourns, Premier Demands Truth from Egypt Slaying – 12 February 2016

BBC News – Giulio Regeni: Funeral Held for Italian Student Killed in Cairo – 12 February 2016

Reuters – Thousands of Egyptian Doctors Protest Over Alleged Police Brutality – 12 February 2016

The New York Times – Egyptian Doctors Revolt Against Escalating Police Abuses – 12 February 2016

The New York Times – Italian Student’s Death Highlights Perils for Egyptians, Too – 12 February 2016

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – Last Thursday, two unnamed Israeli minors were given lengthy prison sentences for the murder of Palestinian teenager, Muhammed Abu Khdeir. The older of the two minors, who was seventeen years old at the time of the murder, was sentenced to 28 years (the 25-year maximum life sentence plus an additional three years). The younger one, he was 16 at the time, was sentenced to 21 years, because the court found that he was not actually involved in the murder.

The main defendant, 31-year-old Yosef Haim Ben-David, has yet to be sentenced as he plead insanity at the last minute. Last November, all three were found guilty of kidnapping and murder. Mohammed Abu Khdeir was kidnapped the morning of the 2^nd of July 2014 and his body was later found in the forest.

A few days before the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir three Israeli teenagers were found dead in a field in West Bank, presumably kidnapped and killed by Palestinian Hamas militants. After being arrested, the defendants confessed the murder of Abu Khdeir was an act of revenge for the killing of the three Israeli’s.

Regarding the shorter sentence for the younger teen, the court ruled “He is the youngest of the bunch with potential for rehabilitation.” The court continued, “His actions are also vicious, he captured the deceased, prevented him from resisting, assisted in strangling him. But nevertheless, he did not take part physically in the last stage that led to his beating and the pouring of the fuel or oil on his body.”

Mohammed Abu Khdeir’s mother, Suha, told reporters, “what kind of justice is this? I’m a mother who lost her son forever, while I’m sure they will be released in 10 years or less. Why? This isn’t justice. This is unfair. I won’t accept such a ruling.” The father stated the family will be sending an appeal, arguing both of the minors should have received life sentences.

Mohammed Abu Khdeir’s father stated, “My wife and I are having nightmares in the middle of the night when we think about what has happened to our son.” He continued, “We are not stable and very emotional about the entire thing.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Mohammad Abu Khdair Murder: Two Israelis Jailed – 4 February 2016

CNN – Israeli Teens Sentenced for Palestinian Boy’s Burning Death – 4 February 2016

The Guardian – Israeli Teenagers Jailed for Murder of Palestinian Boy – 4 February 2016

The New York Times – 2 Israelis Sentenced in 2014 Murder of Palestinian Teenager – 4 February 2016

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 CAIRO, Egypt – The body of an Italian student was found on Thursday in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo. The student, 28-year-old Giulio Regeni, was last seen at 7pm on January 25, 2016, the fifth anniversary of the uprising, as he was headed to a friend’s birthday party.

Mr. Regeni’s body was found half-naked with “evident signs of torture,” namely cigarette burns and head wounds. The Egyptian prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Ahmed Nagy, stated that “there were bruises all over the body, swelling in the hands, and wounds on the face and head.” This form of torture is a signature of a form of abuse associated with the Egyptian security forces. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was from internal bleeding due to a beating to the head.

All of the findings so far have been preliminary. Forensic authorities have yet to release a final report on the incident. Prior to the autopsy, the deputy heard of criminal investigations in Cairo, Alaa Azmi told the Associate Press that, “What we know is that this is an accident.” However, Nagy told CNN that the, “Initial inspection of the body indicates that (this) was no accident.”

Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian foreign affairs minister, stated, “We want the truth to come out, every last bit of it.” He continued, “We owe that much to a family that has been stricken in an irreparable way and, at the very least, has the right to know the truth.

Mr. Regeni was a doctoral candidate at Cambridge University. He had arrived in Cairo to research informal labor organization and to improve his Arabic. He was aware of the politically sensitive nature of his research and according to his supervisor at the American University in Cairo, “He steered clear of anything politicized” and was cautious in his work.

It has not been ruled out that Mr. Regeni’s death was the result of a random criminal act, either a failed kidnapping or a militant act.

Gentoli stated, “Obviously, we are very upset for what happened, and we asked the Egyptian government to cooperate and to allow the Italian authorities to be involved in the inquiry to understand what happened there.” Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ensured that Egyptian authorities will pay, “the utmost attention to investigating the incident.”

Egyptian novelist, Ahdaf Soueif, stated on her Facebook page that there was, “something so extra sad about a person who comes to Egypt in good faith to live and study and gets caught in a nightmare, this obtuse and brutal thuggery that’s the undertone of our lives here today.”

For more information, please see:

CNN – Italian Student Who Went Missing in Cairo Found Battered and Dead – 4 February 2016

Reuters – Body of Italian Student Shows Signs of Torture: Egyptian Officials – 4 February 2016

The New York Times – An Italian’s Brutal Death in Egypt Chills Relations – 4 February 2016

The Washington Post – Italian Student’s Battered Remains Reveal Torture and ‘Slow Death,’ Egyptian Prosecutor Says

– 4 February 2016