The Islamic State's 'Human Shield' War Crimes in Fallujah

[Valin]

Strategy Page:

Austin Bay

June 1, 2016

 

In mid-May, Iraqi officials and U.S. advisers expressed deep concern that Islamic State fighters defending the city of Fallujah would employ "human shields."

 

On May 31, Islamic State fighters began using human shields -- hostages -- to blunt an Iraqi Army attack in Fallujah's southern neighborhoods. Fox News reported that the shields consisted of "several hundred" families -- in other words, an entire neighborhood. A USA Today source reported that Islamic State thugs were "locking some families down inside the hospital building." The Iraqi government and the UN also estimated at least 50,000 innocent people were trapped in Fallujah.

 

Human shield is a euphemism for a hostage placed between an attacker and a legitimate military target. The objective is to stop the attack or, failing that, forcing the attacker to shed innocent blood. It is a purposeful, calculated war crime. Using prisoners of war as "human shields" during World War II was the subject of several post-war war crimes trials.

 

Terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas frequently employ fellow Muslims as flesh and blood armor. They will invoke the term "involuntary martyrdom," suggesting Muslims killed by attackers (usually Israelis) will enter Paradise as martyrs. An Islamic State-affiliate terror group in the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf, has used a variant. Abu Sayyaf has warned Filipino security forces that its fighters will execute hostages if Filipino troops approach their base camps.

 

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