By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – Thousands of Syrian civilians have been displaced from their homes by the Autonomous Administration. The Autonomous Administration is led by the Syrian Kurdish party Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat (PYD). The United States has backed the Autonomous Administration in its fight against the Islamic State.

The Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International, Lama Fakih, stated, “By deliberately demolishing civilian homes, in some cases razing and burning entire villages, displacing their inhabitants with no justifiable military grounds, the Autonomous Administration is abusing its authority and brazenly flouting international humanitarian law, in attacks that amount to war crimes.”

The Autonomous Administration instructed a local armed group, the People’s Protection Units or YPG, to force Arabs and Turkmen from their homes.

According to Amnesty International, some civilians have reported that if they failed to leave, the U.S. led coalition would conduct airstrikes. One civilian, Safwan, told Amnesty International, “They told us we had to leave or they would tell the US coalition that we were terrorists and their planes would hit us and our families.”

The Kurdish authorities insist that displacement was limited and only for security purposes, to keep civilians out of areas facing conflict. However, there has been evidence that whole communities have been displaced and have had their homes destroyed.

It is alleged that the YPG threatened to burn down a house, with the inhabitants still inside. Bassama, a relative of the family, stated, “They started pouring fuel in my in-laws’ house. My mother-in-law was there refusing to leave and they just poured it around her.”

Amnesty International called for the United States and other allies of the Autonomous Administration to not turn a blind eye to the displacement of civilians. The forcible displacement of civilians for no military necessity is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Amnesty International also called for the Autonomous Administration to stop the displacement of civilians and to compensate the civilians whose homes were destroyed.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Syria: US Ally’s Razing of Villages Amounts to War Crimes – 13 October 2015

The Guardian – US-Backed Kurdish Forces ‘Committing War Crimes Against Syrian Civilians’ – 13 October 2015

FOX News – Amnesty Says US-Backed Kurds Displace Thousands of Arabs in Syria, Demolish Villages – 12 October 2015

The Washington Post – Report: U.S.-Backed Kurdish Rebels May Have Committed War Crimes in Syria – 12 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – As many as 11 people were wounded and one Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday by a Palestinian gunman in a bus station in the Israeli city of Beersheba. The attacker was shot and killed by police in what police described as a drawn out gun battle.

An individual who, at the time was believed to be a second attacker, was shot and wounded. The individual was mistaken as an assailant and was not involved in the attack.

Over the past month, 8 Israelis have been killed in random attacks by Palestinians and at least 18 suspected Palestinian attackers have been killed in the 30 attacks against Israel. Palestinians allege that Israel’s security forces are using excessive force. The latest attack is one of the more serious attacks this month.

Israel has erected a concrete wall approximately five meters high between Armon Hanatziv and Jabal Mukaber. The goal was to prevent rocks and petrol bombs from being hurled from Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighborhood, into Armon Hazatziv, a Jewish neighborhood. Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, stated, “This has no political meaning.” He continued, “It’s one more aspect of our security measures.”

Palestinians allege that the roadblocks are merely collective punishment. Israel’s police spokeswoman stated that the barrier would remain, “for as long as needed and that it could be lengthened based on security needs.”

Israel has increased the presence of security forces in its cities as well as setting up roadblocks in East Jerusalem.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have been high. Palestinians believe that Israel is changing the status quo of the hilltop compound, known as Temple Mount by Jews and the al-Aqsa Mosque by Muslims. Israel has denied any attempt to change the status quo and holds Palestinians accountable for promoting violence based off of false accusations.

Israeli’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated, “Israel is not the problem at the Temple Mount, Israel is the solution. He continued, “We will protect the status quo, we are the only ones who are doing this and we will continue to do it responsibly and seriously.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Israel-Palestinian Violence: Israeli Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack – 18 October 2015

Reuters – Palestinian Gunman Kills One, Wounds 11 in Israeli City of Beersheba – 18 October 2015

The Associated Press – Israel: Assailant Opens Fire on Bus Station, Soldier Killed – 18 October 2015

The New York Times – Israeli Soldier is Killed in Attack by Palestinian – 18 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey – Last Sunday, protestors took to the streets to mourn the deaths of as many as 95 people who were killed by an apparent suicide bomber at a peace rally in Ankara the day before.  The names of those who died, were read one by one on television, on Sunday.

The government stated that it was likely that either the Islamic State or the Kurdish rebels were responsible for the suicide bombing. It is alleged that the bombing is similar to a previous suicide bombing incident that had been carried out by the Islamic State in July. That incident had killed 33 Turkish and Kurdish peace activists.

Mourners of the latest suicide bombing placed blame on Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The protestors blame him for promoting nationalism and violence in order to gain votes for the upcoming election.

President Erdogan has pursued a military campaign against Kurdish forces and much of the public does not agree with that decision. The government attempted to shut down social media sites like Twitter an Facebook, in order to prevent images of the carnage from circulating, but were unsuccessful.

The attack was one of the deadliest in modern Turkey, and many fear it is just the beginning of violence and political turmoil. Ahmet Yilmaz, who had been injured in the bombing, stated, “If these crises, bombings and blood continue, we will all be crippled in Turkey.”

The government stated that elections will still be held on November 1, 2015, as planned. Many fear that the bombings have compromised a fair election, because of people’s belief that the President is promoting violence for nationalist goals. President Erdogan wants the ruling party to remain in the majority. The military campaign against Kurdish rebels is seen as an attempt to gain the votes of nationalists. A previous polling volunteer, Omur Bolat, stated, “This bombing shows quite clearly that the election will not be conducted in a free, fair, and healthy way.”

A military campaign against the Kurdish rebels may end up benefiting the Islamic State, however. The Kurdish rebels have allied with the Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State. A Turkish military campaign would against Turkey’s Kurdish rebels would take pressure off of the Islamic State.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Islamic State Could Gain From Turkish Peace Rally Bombing – 11 October 2015

Los Angeles Times – Protests and Skepticism in Turkey Follow Bombings at Peace Rally – 11 October 2015

Reuters – Turkey Sees Islamic State Hand in Bombing, Vows Election Will go on – 11 October 2015

The Huffington Post UK – Turkey Focuses Investigation of Peace Rally Bombing on Islamic State – 11 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria –On Friday, over the course of 24 hours, Russia launched 18 airstrikes in Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry reported 18 attacks against 12 Islamic State facilities.

There is doubt in the International Community that Russia is only attacking the Islamic State. Many of the targeted areas are located in the western and northern parts of Syria. The Islamic State is mostly present in eastern areas in Syria.

The US-led coalition urged Russians, “to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians and to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL.” It continued, “We express our deep concern with regard to the Russian military build-up in Syria and especially attacks by the Russian Air Force on Hama, Homs, and Idlib since yesterday which led to civilian casualties and did not target Da’esh.”

Da’esh, ISIL, and ISIS are all acronyms for the Islamic State.

Russian warplanes flew over the Homs province on Friday. Homs province, which was under attack earlier this week, is held by anti-Assad rebels, but lacks an Islamic State presence. Prayers were cancelled Friday in fear that the mosques would be targeted.

On Thursday, a mosque located in Jisr al-Shughour was destroyed by a Russian airstrike. The mosque had been taken over by Islamic insurgents earlier this year.

Khdaier Khushfa, a Syrian activist, spoke with CNN and reported 17 civilian deaths in Talbiseh and 11 civilian deaths in Zafaraniya, as a result of Russian airstrikes on Wednesday.

Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, stated, “I would like to stress that there were no strikes against civilian infrastructure, especially against buildings where there could have been or were peaceful residents.”

The U.N. Special Envoy to Syria had to suspend humanitarian operations as a result of the attacks. The operation would have allowed for safe passage out of Zabadoni for Sunni insurgents and their families, in return for the safe passage for Shi’ite families in Foua and Kfarya.

Syrian rebel training camps were struck by two Russian airstrikes on Thursday. The rebel group in Idlib is backed by the CIA and is tasked with aiding in the fight against the Islamic State. No deaths were reported for the attacks on the training camps.

Russian’s support for Assad stems from ties between Assad’s father and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Russia believes Assad should be at the center of the efforts to fight militants. The coalition, on the other hand, blames Assad for attacking citizens, which led to radicalizations of the rebels.

It is alleged that Russia’s support for Assad may be a driver for the airstrikes that were conducted in areas with very little to no Islamic State presence.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Spokesman: Russia Launches 18 Attacks in Syria in the Last 24 Hours – 2 October 2015

Reuters – U.S., Allies Demand Russia to Halt Syria Strikes Outside IS Areas – 2 October 2015

The Associated Press – The Latest: Hollande: Only 1 of Russia’s Raids Hits IS – 2 October 2015

The New York Times – Russia Hits ISIS Territory in Syria with Airstrikes but Ignores Western Demands – 2 October 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – France and experts from the United Nations, join rights groups in urging that Saudi Arabia cancel the execution of a young man because he was a minor when he was arrested. Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr was sentenced to death in May for taking part in a protest three years ago.

Al-Nimr could be executed, by beheading, and then crucified at any time. Crucifixion is a public display of the body after the execution to warn others not to commit the same crime. The execution is likely to happen at any times, as al-Nimr’s final appeal was rejected last week. His family does not even know when the execution is to occur because Saudi Arabia does not give the families notice.

When he was only 17 years old, al-Nimr was arrested for protesting in the Arab Spring protests in 2012. The protestors demanded equal rights and democracy for the province of Qatif. Al-Nimr was convicted for various charges including, attacking police with Molotov cocktails, being a member of a terrorist cell, incitement, encouraging sectarianism, breaking allegiance with the king, robbing a pharmacy, and rioting.

A source who is close to the al-Nimr family, spoke to CNN and stated that Ali was innocent of the charges. The source told CNN, “Ali’s young. He just went (to the demonstrations) with people from his school and chanted with the guys and took pictures.” The source claimed that al-Nimr’s sentence was only used as a means to seek “revenge against his uncle.” Ali al-Nimr’s uncle, a Shi’a cleric,  is also condemned to death for charges including, sedition, breaking allegiance with the ruler, and encouraging sectarianism.

The final appeal was heard in court without al-Nimr or his lawyer being present. Sadeeq al-Jabran, al-Nimr’s lawyer, tweeted on Tuesday, “We as a defense team have not been able to visit Ali al-Nimr at the detention center to prepare his defense.” Many rights groups allege that al-Nimr had not received a fair trial and may have been forced to sign a confession to the charges. It is also alleged that al-Nimr may have been tortured.

France, who rarely comments on Saudi Arabia’s death penalties because of the shear frequency, is “opposed to the death penalty in all cases and circumstances, we call for the execution to be called off,” stated the Foreign ministry spokesman, Romain Nadal.

Saudi Arabia is a signatory on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits capital punishments for individuals who commit crimes under the age of 18. Donald Campbell, spokesperson for the international human rights charity Reprieve, stated, “The international community – particularly Saudi Arabia’s closest allies, the UK and the U.S. – must stand with the French government and U.N. experts against this outrage, and call on Saudi authorities to halt this unjustified killing.”

A Saudi Ambassador, Faisal Trad, has recently been appointed to a consultative group for the U.N.’s Human Rights Council. A spokesperson for the Human Rights Council, told CNN, “Members of the Consultative Group are appointed by their regional groups” not the U.N. body and “these members serve in their personal capacity, not their national capacity.”

In August, a report published by Amnesty International alleged that 102 people had been executed in Saudi Arabia in the first half of 2015.

For more information, please see:

BBC – The young Saudi who Could be Executed at any Time – 23 September 2015

CNN – U.N., Rights Groups Call on Saudi Arabia to Spare Man From Beheading, Crucifixion – 23 September 2015

Reuters – France Urges Saudi Arabia to Cancel Death Penalty for Young Shi’ite – 23 September 2015

The New York Times – France Urges Saudi Arabia to Cancel Death Penalty for Young Shi’ite – 23 September 2015

The Huffington Post UK – Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Sentenced to Crucifixion in Saudi Arabia for Attending Pro-Democracy Protest– 22 September 2015