Senior officials of the UN investigative team committed to accountability for ISIL crimes, UNITEDpresented some of their findings to the Member States’ meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York.
For the past five years, UNITAD has collected evidence of crimes committed during the self-proclaimed ISIS Caliphate from June 2014 to December 2017 that could be used to prosecute the extremists in national or foreign courts.
Prosecution is rare
Christian Ritscher, Special Advisor and Head of UNITAD, recalled that the use of chemical weapons is internationally banned and could constitute a crime against humanity, a war crime or even contribute to genocide if a specific group is targeted.
“As far as I know, the use of chemical weapons by non-state actors has had little or no decision in any court – whether national or international – anywhere in the world. as UNITAD, We want to do our part and want to change that,” he said.
ISIL’s investigations into the development and use of chemical and biological weapons began two years ago. It concerned the attack on the town of Taza Khurmatu in March 2016 and whether there had been other incidents elsewhere.
“Challenging” program
Team leader Paula Silfverstolpe said the IS operations represented the culmination of nearly two decades of experimentation by Sunni jihadist groups and were “the most sophisticated program yet devised by non-state actors”.
All manufacture of arms and ammunition was the responsibility of ISIL’s self-proclaimed Ministry of Defense, specifically the Committee on Military Development and Manufacturing (CMDM), which had a monthly budget of over US$1 million, as well as extra-budgetary funds for the purchase of raw materials.
More than 1,000 combatants were involved in the productionaccording to ISIL salary records.
Hundreds were deployed to the chemical weapons program and special job advertisements were placed to recruit scientists and technical experts, including from abroad, including people from countries such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
A Terrible “Premiere”
Specialized research and development teams were based at the then-extremist-run University of Mosul in northern Iraq, in rural parts of Anbar province, and in the city of Hawija, home of ISIL headquarters.
Ms. Silfverstolpe said the militants developed at least eight chemical agents – Aluminum phosphide, botulinum toxin, chlorine, cyanide ions, nicotine, ricin, thallium sulfate and sulfur mustard, also known as mustard gas.
ISIL was also the first non-governmental group to develop a banned chemical warfare agent Combine it with a projectile delivery system.
The toxins mustard gas, chlorine and aluminum phosphide are prohibited Biological Weapons Conventionand there is evidence that ISIL has weaponized their use in mortars, rockets and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The terrorist group also explored the possibility of acquiring anthrax, but there was a possibility So far there is no evidence that combatants have used itor other biological agents, although investigations are ongoing.
Human tests and bonus payments
UNITAD has also gathered evidence suggesting that ISIL chemical agents tested on humans – including ricin, nicotine and thallium sulfate – as well as animals such as rabbits.
ISIL records show that top leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who died in 2019 authorized the use of chemical weapons by troops and even authorized bonus payments for the soldiers who use them. In the event of death, “martyr’s money” was paid.
Al-Baghdadi also personally ordered the attack on Taza Khurmatu “with the intention of causing as many casualties as possible”. Of the 42 projectiles fired at the city, at least 27 contained sulfur mustard, which caused blisters and painful burns. Two children died and thousands of people, including first responders, were injured.
“Broad and systematic” attacks
Judge Ali Noaman Jabbar of the Taza Court of Inquiry said the reopening of the case and UNITAD’s interest motivated numerous victims and their families submit their testimonies.
“The effects caused by the chemical attack include various diseases such as cancer, skin diseases, miscarriages, malformations in embryos, chronic diseases, as well as psychological effects and trauma,” he said in a video message.
According to Ms. Silfverstolpe, the attack on Taza Khurmatu was “definitely not an isolated case”. Information shows at least 12 other attacks were carried out elsewhere, with unconfirmed reports showing 35 others.
“It was a fairly widespread and systematic phenomenonas far as the information we’ve gathered so far,” she said.
honor the victims
UNITAD will continue to work with Iraq and other countries to investigate cases involving 21 “persons of interest” suspected of involvement in the ISIL chemical weapons program, including foreigners.
While some are presumed dead, others have been imprisoned or live in third countries.
Although the caliphate was destroyed, Mr. Ritscher warned that the threat of terrorism had not gone away.
“We must Promoting criminal accountability related to the use of chemical weapons on behalf of ISIS victims and survivors “It’s about promoting peace and reconciliation in Iraq, but also because it’s the responsibility of the entire international community, given that such threats and crimes can also occur in other countries,” he said.
