June 22, 2015: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, says people in areas controlled by the Islamic State group live in daily fear for their lives.
He cited mounting evidence the group was guilty of "systematic violations of international law that could amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, (and) war crimes", and criticised Russia and China for vetoing UN Security Council resolutions to refer the war in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Mr Emmerson said IS was breaking international law on "an industrial scale", attacking ethnic minorities, academics, journalists and homosexuals and imposing a reign of terror in the areas it controls.
He also added that the US-led bombing coalition, which includes Australia, should do more to investigate mounting reports of civilian casualties and publish the results.
The Islamic State group hanged two youths Monday (June 21) after accusing them of eating during daylight hours in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said.
“Residents of the village of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor province reported that IS hanged from a crossbar two boys aged under 18 near the HQ of the Hissba,” the jihadist police, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
“The children have been suspended by ropes from a pole since noon, and they were still there in the late evening,” he said.
“Apparently, they were caught eating.”
A placard was attached to the bodies reading “They broke the fast with no religious justification”.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, which began on June 18, believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn until sunset.
Sources: AFP-JIJI-abc.net.au, HOC, June 22, 2015
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