KRG denies claims of 'mass executions' of ISIS fighters, ‘war crimes’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Responding to claims by Human Rights Watch that Kurdish security forces summarily executed ISIS fighters and then buried them in a "mass grave" near Zummar, the KRG says the corpses were "probably" brought there after not surrendering on the battlefield to Peshmerga.

"Peshmerga forces do not conduct any fighting or measures against surrounded ISIS members, only when they are armed and battling or in the process of carrying-out suicide attacks," wrote Dindar Zebari, the KRG coordinator for international advocacy.

The KRG was responding to HRW reports of claims by a "now retired security force member, 'Nadim' " that its security forces detained men at Sahil al-Maliha, a village 70 kilometers northwest of Mosul, and bussed them to a prison in Shilgia, then took them to areas near Zummar.

HRW said in a report that evidence suggests "that between August 28 and September 3, 2017, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Asayish security forces from the West of the Tigris branch carried out mass executions of alleged Islamic State (also known as ISIS) fighters in their custody, which constitutes a war crime."

Zebari noted that given "ISIS members mentality, they do not give up fighting and are always ready to conduct suicide to try an gain an advantage or cause more damage."

The Peshmerga's 12th Brigade and Asayesh forces were in charge of the area. After Mosul city was liberated in July, many ISIS fighters tried to flee the city and into Syria, or north towards Peshmerga frontlines, and mix into the civilian population.

"...the corpses of the killed ISIS members in this fighting were probably brought in one place to be buried," Zebara said.

 

He added that "Peshmerga forces were monitoring ISIS movements in order to prevent their escape."

HRW stated that they used metadata from photos and video taken on August 29 by Nadim to confirm that there were "about 30 unburied bodies, all shot in the head."

"The bodies did not have visible injuries consistent with battle wounds or suicide attacks, were dressed in civilian clothing, and did not appear to have their hands bound or eyes blindfolded," HRW reported.

Rudaw cannot independently verify the claims.

The photos provided to HRW show male corpses strewn on the ground before they were buried near Zummar — some face up, some face down. They are very skinny. Some are bearded and have uncut hair.

Zummar is about 135 kilometers northwest of the Kurdistan Region’s capital city of Erbil.

“The evidence suggests that Asayish security forces conducted mass executions of captured ISIS suspects night after night for a week, perhaps killing scores, or even hundreds of male detainees,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at HRW. “Iraqi and KRG authorities should urgently and transparently investigate the allegations of mass executions and hold those responsible to account.”