ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The head of the United Nation’s investigation into ISIS crimes in Iraq is seeking support for his mission from the country’s religious leaders. British lawyer Karim Asad Ahmad Khan heads up UNITAD – the United Nations investigative team to promote accountability for crimes committed by ISIS. On Wednesday, he met with Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf. Khan “highlighted that women, including those victims of sexual and gender based violence, should be encouraged to come forward and give their accounts to UNITAD,” according to a statement from the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI). The legal expert explained that they would protect the identity and privacy of all witnesses. Sistani has given his support for Khan’s mission and urged him to pay special attention to crimes committed by ISIS against minority groups – specifically Yezidis in Shingal, Christians in Mosul, and Turkmen in Tal Afar – “especially the crimes of abduction, sale, and rape of women,” read a statement from the religious leader’s office. Iraq has been criticized for its prosecution of ISIS suspects, who have been largely rushed through courts on vague terror charges. Many have been given death sentences. The UN Security Council established UNITAD at the request of Baghdad who asked for help investigating crimes committed against ISIS. Until now, gathering evidence of these atrocities has been piecemeal, some done by governments in Baghdad and Erbil, and other done by private organizations. Khan has prioritized building relationships with the federal and regional governments, religious groups, and NGOs. Religious leaders carry a lot of influence in Iraq and Khan said he plans to visit them all “to foster solidarity, compassion and cohesion amongst the various parts of Iraq and to create an environment conducive” for his work, UNAMI stated.
