UN investigative team outlines findings surrounding ISIL’s use of chemical weapons
Senior officials with the UN Investigative Team promoting accountability for ISIL crimes, UNITAD, presented some of their findings to a meeting of Member States at the UN headquarters in New York.
For the past five years, UNITAD has been gathering evidence of crimes committed during ISIL’s self-styled caliphate from June 2014 to December 2017, which can be used to prosecute the extremists in national courts. – language or foreign country.
Meeting is rare
Christian Ritscher, Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD, recalled that the use of chemical weapons is international law and can be a crime against humanity, a war crime or even contribute to genocide, if a group is targeted.
“To my knowledge, the use of chemical weapons by non-State actors is rarely, if ever, tried in any court – whether national or international – around the world. According to UNITAD, we would like to bring our influence and aim to change this,” he said.
Investigations into ISIL’s development and use of chemical and biological weapons began two years ago, looking into the March 2016 attack on the town of Taza Khurmatu and whether other incidents had occurred elsewhere.
‘Sophisticated’ system
Group leader Paula Silfverstolpe said the ISIL operations represented the culmination of almost two years of testing by Sunni jihadi groups, marking “the most advanced program developed by non-state actors so far”.
The overall production of weapons and ammunition falls under the ISIL’s Self-Defense Department, specifically the Committee of Military Development and Production (CMDM), which has a monthly budget of over $1 million and disbursements to purchase items. raw material
More than 1,000 soldiers were involved in the productionaccording to ISIL payroll records.
Hundreds were transferred to the chemical weapons program, and specific job advertisements were placed to recruit scientists and technical experts, including from abroad, attracting people from countries such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
‘first’ load
There are specialist research and development teams at the University of Mosul, then a stronghold in northern Iraq, the rural areas of Anbar province, and the city of Hawija, home to ISIL’s headquarters.
Mrs. Silfverstolpe said that the military developed at least eight chemical agents – aluminum phosphide, botulinum toxin, chlorine, cyanide ion, nicotine, ricin, thallium sulfate and sulfur mustard, which is also known as mustard gas.
ISIL is also the first non-state group to develop a banned chemical warfare agent and combine it with a projectile delivery system.
The poisons sulfur, chlorine and aluminum phosphide are banned under the Biological Weapons Convention, and evidence shows that ISIL has weaponized their use in mortars, rockets and explosive devices (IEDs).
The gang also explored the possibility of getting anthrax but it came up there is no evidence so far that fighters use itor other biological agents, in any attack, although investigations continue.
Human testing and bonus payments
UNITAD has also received evidence pointing to ISIL testing chemical agents 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 the military and even approved bonus payments for the soldiers who were taking them away. “Martyr payments” are paid if they die.
Al-Baghdadi also personally ordered the attack against Taza Khurmatu “with the aim of causing as many victims as possible”. Of the 42 applications launched against the city, at least 27 contained sulfur mustard, which causes blisters and painful burns. Two children died and thousands of people, including first responders, were injured.
‘Widespread and systematic’ attacks
Judge Ali Noaman Jabbar of the Taza Trial Court said that the opening of the case and the interest of UNITAD has motivated many victims and their families. provide their evidence.
“The effect caused by chemical attack includes various diseases such as cancer, skin diseases, disorders, deformities in fetuses, chronic diseases, and psychological effects and injuries,” he said in the message. a video.
The attack on Taza Khurmatu “is definitely not an isolated case”, according to Ms. Silfverstolpe. Information indicates that at least 12 other attacks were carried out in other areas, with unconfirmed reports of 35 more.
“It was quite a widespread and systematic phenomenonas far as the information we have received so far,” he said.
Respect the victims
UNITAD will continue to work with Iraq and other countries on domestic issues in connection with 21 “persons of interest” suspected of involvement in ISIL’s chemical weapons program, including civilians strange.
While some are believed to be dead, others are in detention or living in third countries.
Although the caliphate has been destroyed, Mr. Ritscher warned that the threat of terrorism has not disappeared.
“We need to improve criminal accountability in relation to the use of chemical weapons in the name of victims and survivors of ISIL to promote peace and reconciliation in Iraq, but because it is the responsibility of the whole world, given that such threats and crimes can manifest themselves in other countries,” he said.
