MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on recent violence in Iraq
8.10.2013 - (2013/2874(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Jelko Kacin, Louis Michel, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Marietje Schaake, Sarah Ludford, Kristiina Ojuland, Graham Watson, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Marielle de Sarnez, Robert Rochefort, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0446/2013
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq, notably its resolutions of 14 March 2013 on the plight of minority groups, in particular the Iraqi Turkmen;
- having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part, and to its resolution of 17 January 2013 on the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement(3);
- having regard to the Commission's Joint Strategy Paper for Iraq (2011-2013);
- having regard to the ‘Human Rights Report on Human Rights in Iraq: January to June 2012’, presented jointly by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the Commission on 19 December 2012,
- having regard to the International Crisis Group Middle East Report N°144, 14 Aug 2013 "Make or Break: Iraq’s Sunnis and the State";
- having regard to the UN Release of Casualty Figures for September, in 1 October 2013;
- having regard to the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon statement to urge leaders to pull Iraq 'back from the brink'", from 29 July 2013;
- having regard to the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief;
- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Iraq is a party;
- having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure;
- Having regard to the statement of 5 September 2013 by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the recent violence in Iraq.
A. whereas Iraq continues to face serious political, security and socio-economic challenges, and whereas the political scene in the country is extremely fragmented and plagued by violence and sectarian politics, to the severe detriment of the legitimate aspirations of the Iraqi people for peace, prosperity and a genuine transition to democracy;
B. Whereas, according to casualty figures released by UNAMI, a total of 979 Iraqis were killed and another 2,133 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in September; whereas, Baghdad was the worst-affected governorate in September, with 1,429 civilian casualties (418 killed and 1011 injured), followed by Ninewa, Diyala, Salahuddin and Anbar. Kirkuk, Erbil, Babil, Wasit, Dhi-Qar and Basra also reported casualties;
C. Whereas, the impact of violence on civilians remains disturbingly high and growing, with at least 4,137 civilians killed and 9,865 injured since the beginning of 2013 which is the highest number in last 5 years;
D. Whereas most of the violence has been blamed on Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which claimed to be behind the series of car bomb attacks;
E. Whereas the EU-Iraq agreement, and in particular its human rights clause, emphasises that the EU-Iraqi political dialogue should focus on human rights and strengthening democratic institutions;
1. Strongly condemns the senseless acts of terrorism and the heightened sectarian violence, which carries the danger that the country falls back into sectarian strife and generates fears of wider sectarian conflict across the region; points out that although violence occurs along sectarian lines its causes are rather political than religious.
2. Strongly condemns all terrorist attacks and extends its condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and injured;
3 Calls on all Iraqi political leaders, from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, to do their utmost to put an end to sectarian violence and distrust and bring the Iraqi people together;
4. Condemns the attacks of: 3 September 2013 with at least 60 killed in mainly Shia districts of Baghdad; 15 September with more than 40 killed in blasts across Iraq mostly targeting Shia areas; 21 September with at least 60 killed in funeral in Sadr City, Baghdad; 30 September with at least 54 killed by car bomb blasts in mainly Shia areas of Baghdad;
5. Strongly condemns the attack on Camp Ashraf on 1st September 2013 by Iraqi forces which left 52 Iranian refugees dead and the abduction of 7 residents including 6 women who, as stated by High Representative Baroness Ashton, are believed to be held in Baghdad, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;
6. Calls on both the government of Iraq and the regional governments to condemn the attacks and to conduct a full and swift independent international investigation into the recent terrorist attacks in the region, and calls on the Iraqi government to fully cooperate with that probe to bring those responsible to justice;
7. Is concerned about the spill-over of violence from the conflict in Syria to Iraq, where jihadist rebels linked to the Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni militant umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda, have risen to prominence;
8. Calls urgently that the political, religious and civil leaders as well as the security services to start to work together to end the bloodshed and ensure that all Iraqi citizens feel equally protected;
9. Calls on the Iraqi government and on all political leaders to take the necessary measures to provide security and protection for all Iraqi citizens in general and members of vulnerable ethnic and religious minorities in particular; calls on the government to instruct the security forces to show restraint in maintaining law and order, in keeping with the rule of law and international standards;
10. Encourages religious dialogue between Sunni and Shia clerics as a necessary tool of conflict resolution; considers that the recent talks between the U.S. and Iran is also an opportunity for Iraq to act as a bridge, as one of the few countries to have strong relations with both; calls Iranian leaders to engage constructively in stabilization of the region;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Council of Representatives of Iraq, the Regional Government of Kurdistan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Council.