Review of Human Rights Violations Report in Tikrit by Iraqi Army Forces

On Thursday, April 2, Amnesty International expressed serious concern and announced that it is reviewing reports of human rights violations by Iraqi army forces and their allied militias during the operation to retake the city of Tikrit from ISIS forces. According to AFP, a spokesperson for the organization stated, "We are very concerned about reports of widespread human rights violations during the military operation near Tikrit." Donatella Rovera added, "Reports indicate that a large number of local residents were arrested in early last month and have since disappeared. Their homes and shops were set on fire or blown up after being looted by militia forces." She continued, "We have also received reports of street executions of men whose involvement in the fighting is unclear. They were all killed after being arrested." According to Rovera, the latest report of human rights violations by Iraqi army forces pertains to Wednesday within the city of Tikrit. Reports indicate that the militias fighting alongside the Iraqi army looted shops in downtown Tikrit on Wednesday. Numerous reports have also emerged of local homes being set ablaze by the militias fighting against the self-proclaimed Islamic State or ISIS. Commanders of these militias have denied these reports, claiming that these houses were set on fire by ISIS forces themselves before fleeing. According to these commanders, the burning of houses is also a tactic for planting explosive devices. The Iraqi army, along with volunteer forces, succeeded last week in regaining control of the city of Tikrit from the self-proclaimed Islamic State forces. Government forces have also managed to retake parts of Salah al-Din province several times last month. This province has been under the control of ISIS forces for months. Meanwhile, a U.S. military official regarding the reports of human rights violations during the Tikrit operation, where the majority of residents are Sunni, stated that the accuracy of these reports is still unclear. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, added that "the performance of Iraqi forces is being closely monitored." He stated, "Iraqis must know that we hold them accountable for all events following the Tikrit operation." According to this U.S. military official, the next step for Iraqi army forces will be the liberation of the city of Baiji in northern Iraq. The self-proclaimed Islamic State is a Sunni extremist group that has seized control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. This group is accused of widespread crimes such as mass executions, kidnapping, torture, rape, and enslaving women in areas under its control.