MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Iraq
19.2.2014 - (2014/2565(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Struan Stevenson on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0188/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq,
– 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[1],
– having regard to the European Commission’s Joint Strategy Paper for Iraq (2011-2013),
– having regard to the United Nations casualty figures in Iraq for January 2014, published on 1 February 2014,
– having regard to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) half-yearly report on human rights, published on 20 January 2014,
– having regard to the statements made by the Vice-President / High Representative on violence in Iraq, most recently on 5 February 2014,
– having regard to the joint statement of 22 January 2014 by the head of the European Union Delegation in Iraq and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq on the launch of the programme for ‘Capacity Building of the Human Rights Related Committees in the Council of Representatives and the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights’,
– having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iraq is a party,
– 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 statement of 1 September 2013 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the deaths at Camp Ashraf,
– having regard to the statement of 29 July 2013 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging leaders to pull Iraq ‘back from the brink’,
– having regard to the outcome of the first meeting of the EU-Iraq Cooperation Council’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and Democracy of 11 November 2013,
– having regard to the findings on Iraq of the Human Rights Watch World Report 2014,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Iraq continues to face serious political, security and socio-economic challenges, with political fragmentation and violence, which severely jeopardise the prospects for peace, prosperity and a genuine transition to democracy;
B. whereas, according to the latest figures from UNAMI, a total of 733 Iraqis were killed and another 1 229 wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in January 2014; whereas of those deaths 618 were civilians; whereas these figures do not include people killed or injured in Anbar province; whereas, according to figures obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, the total number of civilian casualties in Anbar up to 27 January 2014 was 138 killed and 598 injured;
C. whereas, according to UNAMI figures, some 7 818 civilians were killed and 17 981 injured in Iraq in 2013; whereas the casualty figures for 2013 make it the bloodiest year in Iraq for five years;
D. whereas according to Human Rights Watch conditions continue to deteriorate in Iraq as sectarian tensions deepen; whereas terrorists are carrying out daily attacks on civilians, with suicide and car bombings and assassinations becoming more frequent; whereas the Government of Iraq has responded to peaceful protests with violence and to the worsening security situation with draconian counterterrorism measures;
E. whereas the violence has intensified in Iraq’s western provinces, with a number of violent clashes and a significant mobilisation of Iraqi security forces;
F. whereas the impact of violence on civilians has created serious socio-economic problems, with widespread poverty, high unemployment, economic stagnation and a lack of public services; whereas many thousands of people have been displaced due to violence and poverty;
G. whereas the UNHCR estimates that 140 000 Iraqis have fled the fighting in the western Iraqi province of Anbar;
H. whereas Iraq’s minority communities continue to be targeted by terrorists as part of the increased violence; whereas journalists are also being attacked and killed, targeted for assassination, or threatened with intimidation;
I. whereas on 6 February 2014 the Government of Iraq launched its National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2014-2018), concerning women, peace and security;
J. whereas the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence was marked enthusiastically across Iraq, with a number of events hosted by the international community, the Iraqi Government and others, demonstrating public support for change; whereas a draft personal status law, which would have reduced women’s rights, lowering the age of marriage and changing custody and inheritance rights, was rejected by the Iraqi Parliament;
K. whereas the Iraqi Government is reportedly holding thousands of women illegally, with many being subjected to torture and ill-treatment, and detention without charge;
L. whereas the Iraqi authorities continue to apply the death penalty, including mass executions; whereas around 200 people were executed in 2013, one of the highest numbers in any country in the world; whereas both the Iraqi Minister of Justice and the Minister of Human Rights publicly reaffirmed their support for Iraq’s use of the death penalty during this period; whereas EU Heads of Mission in Baghdad co-signed a statement on World Day Against the Death Penalty in October, which expressed deep concern at Iraq’s use of the death penalty and called on the Government of Iraq to introduce a moratorium;
M. whereas the Iraqi constitution guarantees equality before the law for all its citizens, along with the ‘administrative, political, cultural and educational rights of the various nationalities’;
N. whereas the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, in particular its human rights clause, emphasises that the EU-Iraq political dialogue should focus on human rights and strengthening democratic institutions;
1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent acts of terrorism in Iraq, which threaten to plunge the country into renewed sectarian strife and may lead to wider violence across the region; extends its condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured;
2. Expresses its deep concern at the impact of the violence on the lives of ordinary Iraqi citizens; further expresses deep concern at the worsening conflict in Anbar province, which has resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of thousands of families;
3. Acknowledges the challenges posed by the security situation in Iraq, but calls on Iraq’s political, religious and civil leaders to work together as a matter of urgency in order to tackle the violence and promote a roadmap towards peace, reconciliation and stability with inclusive policies, based on respect for human rights and the rule of law;
4. Calls on the Government of Iraq and the regional governments within Iraq to condemn all acts of violence and to conduct a full, swift and independent investigation in order to bring those responsible to justice;
5. Recalls the Government of Iraq’s commitments under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to respect and observe human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion;
6. Notes with concern the spill-over of violence from the conflict in Syria;
7. Expresses its concern at indiscriminate arrests under Article 4 of Iraq’s anti-terrorism law and at widespread reports of abuse of detainees; reiterates its call for a moratorium on the death penalty;
8. Strongly condemns the attack carried out by Iraqi forces on Camp Ashraf on 1 September 2013, in which 52 Iranian refugees were killed and seven residents abducted; condemns the reported secret disposal of the 52 bodies by the Iraqi Government; further supports the United Nations’ call for an investigation into the attack; expresses concern at recent attacks on Camp Liberty, which is home to some 3 000 members and families of the Mujahadeen Khalq, the leading Iranian opposition group;
9. Calls for the national parliamentary elections in Iraq, scheduled for April 2014, to be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner in order to help the Iraqi people fulfil their democratic ambitions;
10. Notes with concern the recent attacks on journalists in Iraq and the arrest by Iraqi security forces of those who have reported on politically sensitive topics; expresses concern that such violence and intimidation could prevent free and fair reporting of the forthcoming parliamentary elections; calls on the Iraqi authorities to investigate these attacks and acts of intimidation and to bring those responsible to justice;
11. Expresses strong and growing concern at reported abuses against women in Iraq, including in the criminal justice system; expresses concern also at violence and intimidation against vulnerable minority groups and calls on the Iraqi Government to investigate such abuses and bring those responsible to justice;
12. Expresses deep concern at violence against minority religious groups in Iraq and calls on Iraq’s religious leaders and the Government of Iraq to work together to put an end to sectarian violence and distrust, in order to promote the freedom of religious belief and to bring the Iraqi people together;
13. Welcomes the World Interfaith Harmony Week event held in Baghdad on 1 February 2014, which was attended by religious leaders from different communities and youth and civil society representatives, as well as Iraqis from different neighbourhoods and faiths; expresses the hope that such an event will act as a catalyst for a greater inter‑religious and inter-community engagement as part of the process of nurturing social cohesion and harmony within religious and cultural diversity;
14. Welcomes the 26 January 2014 launch of the National Teacher Training Strategy – based on cooperation between UNESCO and the Government of Iraq – which will drive forward the process of teacher training and education as a means to increase learning opportunities throughout the country;
15. Underlines its unswerving commitment to respect for human rights as an essential tool in building a strong democracy and in combating terrorism and violence; further emphasises its firm conviction that neither torture nor the death penalty work as an effective deterrent against terrorism;
16. Reconfirms its continuing commitment to support the people of Iraq in protecting and promoting human rights and to help them fulfil their ambitions for a democratic, prosperous and secure country;
17. 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.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0022.