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UN Condemns Civilian Hostage Taking by Islamic State in Syria

by Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA --

   The U.N. human rights office is condemning multiple attacks by Islamic
   State militants against civilians last week, which reportedly killed
   and injured more than 200 people in the city of Sweida in southwest
   Syria.

   The U.N. agency reports scores of Islamic State militants went on a
   rampage, raiding homes in at least eight villages in rural Sweida,
   shooting and killing civilians and abducting women and children in
   their homes.

   Human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani says her agency has the
   names of at least 27 women and children reportedly taken hostage. She
   adds the real number is probably much higher.

   "Photos of some of these abducted women were later tweeted, with
   threats to burn them alive if the government did not cease military
   operations against ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] in
   western Dara'a and release ISIL women and men who were in government
   custody," she said.

   Shamdasani says many of the militants reportedly were recently
   evacuated and relocated from the Palestinian Yarmouk Refugee Camp and
   other areas of southern Damascus as part of a so-called government
   reconciliation agreement.

   While agreements putting an end to fighting are welcome, she tells VOA
   the government is obliged under international law to make sure that
   civilians are not put in danger.

   "They are duty-bound, they are the state who have de jure power, who
   have jurisdiction over this area and they have the duty to protect
   civilians who are in this area, including by not putting them
   deliberately in harm's way, by putting ISIL fighters close to these
   civilian residential areas," she said.

   Shamdasani warns against transferring armed fighters who have a history
   of gross human rights abuses in proximity with local communities. She
   says their presence, in all likelihood, will increase violent attacks
   against the civilian population.