Can we charge Trump with facilitating war crimes?
"Killing defenseless people in cold blood is utterly reprehensible and a blatant war crime," said Amnesty International secretary general Kumi Naidoo
by
Just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed
Turkey's assault on Kurds in Syria by likening it to a parking lot
evidence that Turkish forces and their allies have committed
war crimes and displayed a "shameful disregard for civilian life"
in northeastern Syria.
Based on video footage, medical records, and witness testimony
from journalists and aid workers, Amnesty's new report details
numerous appalling instances of Turkish forces and their Syrian
rebel allies indiscriminately bombarding residential areas,
abducting civilians, and committing murder in cold blood.
"In one of the most horrific attacks documented," Amnesty said,
"a Kurdish Red Crescent worker described how he pulled bodies
from the wreckage of a Turkish airstrike on 12 October at around
7 am, in which two munitions landed near to a school in Salhiye,
where civilians displaced by the fighting had sought shelter."
"a Kurdish Red Crescent worker described how he pulled bodies
from the wreckage of a Turkish airstrike on 12 October at around
7 am, in which two munitions landed near to a school in Salhiye,
where civilians displaced by the fighting had sought shelter."
The aid worker told Amnesty that four people, including two children,
were killed in the Turkish strike.
were killed in the Turkish strike.
"I couldn't tell if they were boys or girls because their corpses
were black. They looked like charcoal," he said. "The other two
people killed were older men, they looked older than 50.
Honestly, I am still in shock."
were black. They looked like charcoal," he said. "The other two
people killed were older men, they looked older than 50.
Honestly, I am still in shock."
The report also highlights the case of Hevrin Khalaf, a Kurdish
female politician and Secretary General of the Future Syria
political party who was "dragged out of her car, beaten, and
shot dead" on October 12 by fighters with Ahrar al-Sharqiya, a
Syrian rebel group allied with Turkey.
female politician and Secretary General of the Future Syria
political party who was "dragged out of her car, beaten, and
shot dead" on October 12 by fighters with Ahrar al-Sharqiya, a
Syrian rebel group allied with Turkey.
"A medical report seen by Amnesty International lists a series
of injuries inflicted on Hevrin Khalaf," the group said, "including
multiple gunshot wounds to the head, face, and back as well as
fractures to her legs, face and skull, detachment of skin from her
skull, and loss of hair as a result of being dragged by the hair."
of injuries inflicted on Hevrin Khalaf," the group said, "including
multiple gunshot wounds to the head, face, and back as well as
fractures to her legs, face and skull, detachment of skin from her
skull, and loss of hair as a result of being dragged by the hair."
Kumi Naidoo, secretary general of Amnesty International, said
in a statement that "killing defenseless people in cold blood is
utterly reprehensible and a blatant war crime."
in a statement that "killing defenseless people in cold blood is
utterly reprehensible and a blatant war crime."
"The Turkish military offensive into northeast Syria has wreaked
havoc on the lives of Syrian civilians who once again have been
forced to flee their homes and are living in constant fear of
indiscriminate bombardment, abductions, and summary
killings," said Naidoo. "Turkish military forces and their allies
have displayed an utterly callous disregard for civilian lives."
havoc on the lives of Syrian civilians who once again have been
forced to flee their homes and are living in constant fear of
indiscriminate bombardment, abductions, and summary
killings," said Naidoo. "Turkish military forces and their allies
have displayed an utterly callous disregard for civilian lives."
In addition to demanding that Turkey halt its attacks on
northeastern Syria, Amnesty urged nations that export
arms to the country to immediately suspend any weapons
transfers
.
northeastern Syria, Amnesty urged nations that export
arms to the country to immediately suspend any weapons
transfers
.
"The USA is the largest exporter of weapons to Turkey,"
Amnesty noted. "Other suppliers include Italy, Germany,
Brazil, and India."
Amnesty noted. "Other suppliers include Italy, Germany,
Brazil, and India."
Amnesty's report comes after Trump—who paved the way
for the Turkish military operation by abruptly withdrawing
U.S. forces from northeastern Syria—made light of the
humanitarian catastrophe in the region by comparing it
to a parking lot scrap between "two kids."
for the Turkish military operation by abruptly withdrawing
U.S. forces from northeastern Syria—made light of the
humanitarian catastrophe in the region by comparing it
to a parking lot scrap between "two kids."
"Sometimes you have to let 'em fight," Trump said
during a campaign rally in Dallas, Texas.
"Like two kids in a lot, you gotta let 'em fight, then you
pull 'em apart."
during a campaign rally in Dallas, Texas.
"Like two kids in a lot, you gotta let 'em fight, then you
pull 'em apart."
Observers expressed horror at Trump's remarks.
"The president is talking about genocidal slaughter
and hundreds of thousands of war victims like it's a
playground squabble," said S.V. Dáte, White House
correspondent for HuffPost.
and hundreds of thousands of war victims like it's a
playground squabble," said S.V. Dáte, White House
correspondent for HuffPost.
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