By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi forces and militias have pushed into former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit on Wednesday, advancing from the north and south. The fight is part of their largest counter-offensive so far against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). If the Iraqi government is able to regain control of the oil rich city of Tikrit it would be the first time Iraqi forces have reclaimed a major city from ISIS forces and would likely pave the way for the liberation of Mosul, the largest city in ISIS hands.

Army and militia fighters reportedly captured part of Tikrit’s northern Qadisiya district, the provincial governor said, a security officer reported that forces have also made an advance from the south making a rapid push toward the center of the city. “The forces entered Tikrit general hospital,” an official at the main military operation command center said. “There is heavy fighting going on near the presidential palaces, next to the hospital complex.”

North of the city of Tikrit, Kurdish Peshmerga forces have intensified their offensive against ISIS forces, pushing back the militants south and west of Kirkuk while with the support of airstrikes launched by the United States and coalition forces. The Kurds also took control of a key route from Kirkuk to the ISIS stronghold of Mosul, the largest city in Northern Iraq, according to Kurdish officials. As ISIS retreated towards Hawija, residents reported ISIS militants killed some of their own members who had tried to flee the fighting.

In what may be retaliation for the efforts to liberate Tikrit ISIS forces have reportedly launched 13 suicide car attacks in the provincial capital of Ramadi, located 55 miles from Baghdad, in the ISIS stronghold, Anbar providence. The cars were used to attack security and military forces in the city. The death toll from the attacks was not immediately clear but a medical official reported at least give people were killed in the attacks.  One of the car bombs was detonated near a bridge in the west of the city which borders the Tigris River, damaging at least part of the bridge, a police source said.

While the attempted liberation of Tikrit marks a major milestone in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant which has pillaged the region, murdering and raping civilians and destroying priceless cultural sites, some have expressed concern that Iraqi forces may seek to take revenge on the Sunni residents in and around Tikrit, as was reported with earlier militia victories in Diyala province. Camp Speicher, near the city of Tikrit, was the site of the massacre more than 1,000 Shi’ite soldiers by ISIS militants. Shi’ite clerics have called on the militias to act with restraint,

For more information please see:

The Boston Globe – Iraqi Forces Seize Large Parts of Tikrit from Islamic State – 11 March 2015

CNN International – Iraqi Forces Take Military Hospital from ISIS as Tikrit Offensive Continues – 11 March

National Public Radio – Iraqi Forces Reportedly Enter Tikrit in Push against ISIS – 11 March 2015

Reuters – Iraqi Forces Push Into Tikrit, Bombers Hit Ramadi – 11 March 2015

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

MANAMA, Bahrain – As the world’s attention focuses on the threats associated with the spread of extremist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant the world has remained silent as human rights abuses continue in the small Gulf State regime of Bahrain. Bahraini rights activists expressed concern on Friday that John Legend, an American singer known for his outspoken advocacy of civil rights and in the United States, plans to perform in Bahrain next week, despite the country’s continued brutal crackdown on dissent and civilian protests. Legend is scheduled to perform at Bahrain’s state sponsored Spring of Culture festival.

Bahraini human rights activities have labeled John Legend, the Academy award winning recording artist behind Selma’s hit song “glory,” a hypocrite for eloquently writing about the American Civil Rights movement and, to their minds, failing to show empathy for the Bahrain human rights movement by going forward with a big ticket performance for Bahrain’s rich and powerful. Legend responded with a statement saying that he was aware of “documented human rights abuses by the government of Bahrain,” but preferred to “engage with the people of the country” by visiting there.

When accepting the Academy Award for best original song in a motion picture Legend told viewers of the telecast, “We say that ‘Selma is now’ because the struggle for justice is right now.” He added, “Live in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more black men under correctional control today than were under slavery in 1850. When people are marching with our song, we want to tell you that we are with you.” Bahraini activists have argued that Legends decision not to cancel the Bahraini show demonstrates a level of hypocrisy and indifference towards the struggle for human rights in Bahrain.

Robert Mackey of the New York Times noted the Irony in the Selma song writer’s actions writing; “three years before the American protesters mentioned in the song “Glory” confronted police officers in Ferguson, Mo., with the chant, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot,” demonstrators in Bahrain were gunned down by the security forces as they marched with raised hands, repeating the Arabic word for “peaceful” — “selmiya” — again and again.

The Bahraini regime has a long history of human rights abuses and crackdowns on public assent. The fourth anniversary of the Bahraini uprising was marked on 14 February with clashes between protesters and police, as the Bahraini regime resisted reform. Shortly after Hussain Jawad prominent, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist was arrested by plain-clothes police and his home of was raided by 20 masked police officers. His family expressed concerns that he may be tortured while in custody.

For more information please see:

The New York Times – John Legend Rejects Calls to Cancel Bahrain Show over Rights Abuses – 2 March 2015

Press TV – International Silence Emboldens Bahrain Regime: Nabeel Rajab – 1 March 2015

Middle East Eye – Bahraini Human Rights Activist Detained, Family Claim Risk of Torture – 16 February 2015

The Guardian – We Are Human Rights Defenders, But Bahrain Says We’re Terrorists – 9 February 2015

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 

Sanna, Yemen 

Yemen is in a state of chaos, Shiite rebels, Al-Qaeda and government forces and other groups compete for control of the country. The chaos has been exacerbated since Shiite militants, known as Houthi rebels seized key government buildings, kidnapped the President’s Chief-of-Staff and surrounded the presidential mansion. In response, the President, Prime Minister and cabinet have stepped down leaving the Houthi’s with control of the capital and the majority of its infrastructure. The Houthi’s represent the Shiite minority of Yemen, which is a predominantly Sunni nation.

Concerns over the chaos and in fighting in Yemen stretch far beyond its borders, the U.S and European Allies are very concerned over who could end up in power. The former government of Yemen was one of the U.S’s top Middle Eastern Allies in the fight against AL-Qaeda. The concern is also very real in Europe after the Paris attacks were claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen. Even though most of the unrest has been attributed to the Houthi militant group AL-Qaeda has also struck out against government assets and military institutions. A statement by the news media liaison for Al-Qaeda claimed that the group had captured an entire Yemeni National Army brigade and seized control of an important oil-producing region in Southeastern Yemen.

There are a few other major players in the power struggle beside the Houthis and Al-Qaeda. The others include the Muslim Brotherhood, in the form of a political group called the Al Islah Party. The party is Sunni and is in opposition to the Houthi movement. The other major player is ISIS, leader al-Baghdadi has called on Yemeni Sunnis to resist the Shiite Houthi rebels. ISIS is also looking to outshine Al-Qaeda and become the dominant group.

The U.N has also expressed concern over the unrest in Yemen; Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has stated that Yemen is essentially collapsing before our eyes. The Security Council has issued a resolution demanding that the Houthis step aside and relinquish control of all government institutions. The resolution also approved an emergency council meeting, which allowed the resolution to be enforced by military force.

For more information, please see:

CNN — U.N Security Council Slams Houthi Rebels Takeover in Yemen — 16 February 2015

The New York Times — U.N Warns that Yemen as Al-Qaeda Fighters Make Big Gains — 12 February 2015

CNN — Who’s in Charge in Yemen? — 23 January 2015

Al Jazeera — UN Security Council Demands Houthis Step Aside in Yemen — 16 February 2015