ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Iraqi government must do their utmost to prevent sectarianism, protect civilians, and uphold human rights throughout the course of Fallujah’s liberation from Islamic State (ISIS) said Jan Kubis, the Special Representative of the UN’s Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), in a statement in which he said he supports Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s call for forces liberating the city to avoid ‘extreme’ and ‘treacherous’ actions. “The people of Fallujah have suffered immensely under Daesh [ISIS]. Many of them are on the move, further risking their lives to escape the terrorist group and the fighting, and are desperately in need of safe shelter. They should not be subjected to further suffering and intimidation,” Kubis explained on Sunday. There are fears that the presence of Shiite militias, the Hashd al-Shaabi, in the operation to liberate the Sunni city of Fallujah will stoke sectarian tensions and lead to abuses. Rudaw has learned that some residents escaping Fallujah have been detained, tortured and four have been killed by Shiite militias. More than 600 families were temporarily detained by the militias before being handed over to the Anbar provincial council, said council member Rajih Barakat. “The detainees were in critical condition, facing many tortures and abuses. Four of them were killed under torture and two others are in critical condition,” Barakat told Rudaw on Sunday. Video footage shared on social media appears to depict Shiite militia members torturing people who escaped Fallujah. The images have angered many in Iraq, especially the large Sunni population. In order to dispel fears of sectarian violence, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared that Shiite paramilitaries would assist in the operation to encircle the city only but would not enter Fallujah itself. A Shiite militia leader confirmed this role on Sunday. “The role of Hashd al-Shaabi is to support the security forces, and if they order us we will enter Fallujah,” said Abu Mahdi Muhandis, deputy chairman of the militia group. Kubis called for sectarian tensions to be set aside in favour of the nobler cause of routing ISIS and rebuilding the nation of Iraq. “Igniting sedition and sectarian tensions have always been the aims of the terrorist group,” he said. “The battle of Fallujah is the battle of all Iraqis who want to see their future with all others in Iraq free of Daesh. The noble cause of ridding Fallujah of Daesh terrorists should not be allowed to be tarnished by violations of human rights and dignity of people, notably on sectarian grounds.” “The Fallujah operation should unite the political forces against those forces fanning the flames of sectarianism, and prompt them to work together towards the much needed national reconciliation to reach a historic compromise based on inclusiveness, equality and justice for all that will create a sustainable ground for the unity of Iraq and its people.” Kubis’s remarks follow a fatwa issued by Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Sistani, late last month which called upon the Iraqi government and military not to “be extreme” nor “treacherous” when carrying out the Fallujah operation. “Don’t kill an old man, nor a boy, nor a woman,” the fatwa said. Kubis also called on the Iraqi government to investigate, with full transparency, reports that civilians fleeing the fighting in Fallujah are having their human rights violated by the Iraqi authorities. An estimated 50,000 civilians are still trapped in Fallujah. The Iraqi government had urged those who could to leave and those who could not to fly white flags to show the incoming forces that they posed no threat. Reports indicate that between 3,000 and 5,000 have been able to flee. ISIS militants have prevented many from leaving through executions, amputations, and recently shooting those trying to swim across the Euphrates River to territory held by the Iraqi forces. The offensive to retake Fallujah, which has been under Islamic State control since January 2014, was launched over two weeks ago but has proceeded slowly. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi claimed the offensive his army was leading into the city had been purposely slowed down in order to minimize civilian casualties. “It [Fallujah’s recapture] would have been possible to end the battle quickly if protecting civilians wasn’t among our priorities,” Abadi said last Wednesday.
