Iraq's Sunnis 'hammered' from both sides

On Sunday, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its findings of the state of human rights in Iraq's minority Sunni areas, underlining an increase in abuses perpetrated by security forces and allied militias.

"Iraqi civilians are being hammered by ISIS and then by pro-government militias in areas they sized from ISIS," said Joe Stork, HRW deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, referring to the "Islamic State" (IS) by another acronym.

"With the government responding to those they deem terrorists with arbitrary arrests and executions, residents have nowhere to turn for protection."

IS militants launched an assault on northern Iraq in June, expanding their influence in the politically unstable Middle East nation and inflicting their brutal ideology on local populations in the country's north.

While IS human rights abuses - including crucifixions, torture and killing of ethnic minorities - have made headlines this year, HRW said on Sunday that pro-government forces were behind an escalation in abuses in recent months.

October saw upswing in abuse

The report focused on events in Muqdadiyya, which lies roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Baghdad, where the IS assault had driven residents away.

According to eyewitnesses cited by HRW, the security forces linked to the government, who were in the area to push back IS militants, were guilty of forcing residents from their homes, kidnappings and summary executions.

These abuses increased in October, coinciding with the retreat of IS fighters and the installment of the country's new Shiite prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.

"The attacks in northern Muqdadiyya appear to be part of a militia campaign to displace residents from Sunni and mixed-sect areas after the militias and security forces routed ISIS in theses areas," the report said.

Eyewitnesses accused the militiamen of mass arrests without a warrant, burning down homes, terrorizing residents with the threat of violence and kidnappings.

Sunnis comprise roughly 35 percent of Iraq's majority Muslim population, with Shiites dominating the remainder of society and government. The previous Iraqi government under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had faced criticism for alienating the Sunni minority and were partially blamed for creating conditions which aided the rejuvenation of Sunni militants and IS.

kms/rc (AP, AFP, dpa)