15/11/16: Iraqi Ambassador discussion

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) attended a discussion on 15 November with the Iraqi Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Salih Ali Hussein, on the “Liberation of Mosul and addressing post IS concerns”. The Chair of this event was Tom Brake MP.

 Main points which were raised were:

  • Turkey should not interfere with Iraq and should remove its forces from Iraqi territory; the international community should join Iraq in calling for the removal of Turkish forces.
  • The joining of Sunni, Shia and Peshmerga forces in the PMF (Popular Mobilisation Force) is “wonderful”, as they are fighting “shoulder to shoulder” for the first time.
  • The first priority for the Iraqi government is the protection of civilians as Mosul is liberated.
  • The government is aiming to return all IDPs home; however, given the level of destruction differs from town to city, this will depend on the remaining infrastructure in each area. Throughout the meeting, the Ambassador called upon the international community and the UK to support Iraq in rehousing the IDPs and rebuilding infrastructure.
  • There was a call from the Chair and Jim Shannon MP to the Ambassador to write to the UK government asking for assistance for the Yazidi community to deal with the PTSD they have suffered. There are only 25 (all male) councillors and psychologists in Northern Iraq and there are about 3,500 Yazidi women and girls in Mosul. The UK could assist in this connection. The Ambassador wants the international community to support Iraq in rebuilding the city.
  • The corridors leading from Mosul to Raqqa is a potential escape route for Daesh fighters, but the Ambassador explained how the PMF is tasked with protecting this route (although they do not have control of the smaller routes). Similarly, the fear that Daesh fighters will merge with the refugee population is being addressed with the assistance of an expert in Fallujah, to check the people fleeing and to weed out Daesh fighters, using the evidence from the fleeing population.
  • Although it remains uncertain whether there is now fighting between PMF factions, preventing the Yazidi population from going home, the Ambassador reiterated that the forces fighting Daesh are united. All these fighters are registered.

The PHRG continues to monitor the situation in Mosul and Iraq, and to raise its concerns with relevant interlocutors.