U.S. Condemns ISIL Executions in Anbar Province

U.S. Condemns ISIL Executions in Anbar Province

Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 31, 2014

We are deeply concerned by reports of mass executions of Sunni tribesmen in Anbar province by ISIL and strongly condemn the brutal actions that ISIL continues to perpetrate against the Iraqi people. One of the primary goals of ISIL is to sow fear into the hearts of all Iraqis and drive sectarian division among its people. We condemn these tactics in the strongest possible terms and stand in solidarity with the Iraqi people against these horrendous and senseless acts of violence. ISIL’s indiscriminate crimes prove, yet again, that it is targeting all Iraqis, regardless of faith or region.

The depravity of the reported executions of the Sunni tribesmen from the Albu Nimr tribe, and other Anbar tribes, reports of mass executions of Shiite prisoners in Mosul, the reports of a mass grave outside of Ramadi, and the continued persecution of other Iraqi minority groups, are further evidence of ISIL’s campaign of terror. Those individuals responsible for these horrendous acts of violence must be identified and held fully accountable.

ISIL does not represent the people of Iraq; they are murderers and terrorists, who do not govern, but bleed the country they occupy. It should also be clear that ISIL is not only a threat to the stability of Iraq, but a threat to the entire region. The international community, including prominent Islamic religious leaders, continues to condemn and reject ISIL’s unrelenting depravity and twisted ideology.

To stop ISIL’s campaign of terror and horror against the Syrian and Iraqi people, we remain steadfast in our efforts to work with the Iraqi Government and our regional partners and lead the international coalition to degrade and defeat ISIL. The United States will do its part to help Iraq move beyond this crisis and we urge all Iraqis to unite against this violence and continue to reject the path of hatred that ISIL represents.

ENDS

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