Syrian forces used children as human shields, UN report says

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Syrian forces used children as human shields, UN report says

2012-06-12

A new United Nations report says the Syrian military and pro-government militias have tortured children and used them as human shields, AFP reported Tuesday (June 12th).

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN special representative for children in armed conflict, said Syrian children as young as nine were victims of arbitrary arrest, torture, sexual violence, maiming and killing.

The UN report stated that Syrian forces rounded up dozens of boys aged eight to 13 prior to a March 9th attack on Ain al-Arouz in Idlib province.

Children were "used by soldiers and militia members as human shields, placing them in front of the windows of buses carrying military personnel into the raid on the village", the report said.

The report does not include information about the May 25th Houla massacre. Forty-nine of the 108 victims were said to be children, some as young as two and three. Many of the victims were shot in the head or beaten to death.

Human rights groups estimate that 1,200 children have died since protests began in Syria in March 2011.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS ARTICLE? (TOTAL VOTES: 139)

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READER COMMENTS

مهموها

2012-7-23

Unfortunately, this article witnesses a bitter fact in the Arab world.
حنان فوزي

2012-7-22

Maybe the United Nations is the only place that talks about human rights, but when the talks are serious, it withdraws and declines.
احمد من الاردن

2012-7-21

May God grant victory to Syrians!
محمد

2012-7-16

I am amazed when I hear or read this news. Bashar has the power to kill any man by accusing him of being a terrorist. This way he maintains his authority. But, what will Bashar gain from killing children? Does he kill them in order to accuse the terrorists of killing them? They are terrorists anyway, and there is no need to frame them. Does he aim to have authority? He has it already. I don't find any convincing reason that would make me believe that Bashar is the one who kills children. What is the advantage that he will get from killing them? People of Syria, manage your own situation, you people of intellect!
محمد

2012-7-14

May God forgive you!
احمد المصرى

2012-7-11

Syria is the best country and, God willing, they will be supported by God in their distress!
شهد

2012-7-11

The state of injustice lasts for an hour, while the state of justice lasts till the Hereafter!
محمد

2012-7-8

All of these are lies. Sadly, people believe the lying of America, etc. They know that it is lying and yet they believe it. The Almighty God says: "They have hearts wherewith they understand not and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth).” (Surat Al-A'raf - verse 179)
mohamad osman

2012-7-2

You soldier, he is a minor.
مش مهم

2012-7-2

God is against the tyrant and the oppressor.
حازم

2012-7-2

Shame on you!
شيماء

2012-6-28

Bashar has neither a heart nor a mind that differentiates between children and adults. God is sufficient for me, for He is the Best Disposer of affairs!
وقاص

2012-6-13

Bashar is killing all of the Syrian people; he wants to eliminate them, whether they are rebelling or even supporting him in his terrorist actions. Bashar does not allow anyone to live; he wants to stay alone with all those who follow him. Bashar is now sick with suspicion; he is suspicious of everyone around him. We don't eliminate the possibility that he may assassinate all those around him for his personal interest. The use of the thugs called "shabiha"; i.e. thugs, by the Syrian regime is the biggest proof that it targets the civilians. The regime not only intimidates them; it also conducts many operations of mass murders. Each day that the Security Council delays its decision means the death of more victims. Al-Assad will not stop its military operations. The observers in Syria filmed and wrote down all the details of the brutal crimes committed against the Syrians. The Syrian regime brought into the country many mercenaries who work on annihilating the Syrians. The Assad regime used heavy weapons and artillery fire against citizens. He is even assassinating the medical staff and groups so that no one would help the revolutionists, such as treating them or rescuing them from the serious injuries that lead to their death. The Arab and international regimes have to move in order to destroy the regime of Bashar quickly, before the Syrians lose a lot of lives. I pray to God to relieve them of this oppression and to protect them from the tyranny of Bashar. Amen, O Lord of the Worlds!
معين

2012-6-13

It is known that Syria is now living through the worst days that it has experienced in the modern era. So I think that they live in days worse than they experienced during the rule of the father Hafez al-Assad. It is known that the Syrian people revolted against the father almost three decades ago. The late President of Syria put down this uprising and revolution not by reform nor by response to the rebellion, but military aviation, which killed more than thirty-five thousand martyrs, mostly in Homs. The son came after that to complete what his father began, walking the same path and following the same approach and method in dealing with those who say no, stop, to the system. How many people have been killed in Syria, and how many people became homeless and how many of the initiatives for peaceful solutions have been proposed? And there is nothing new there in Syria. Every day we hear of dozens of deaths, and the displacement of hundreds, and detained young people, and the rape of women, and no one lifts a finger and does something that might stop what Assad is doing to his nation. The Arab League sent a delegation to convince Assad to stop the killing. This initiative failed miserably. The super powers tried to pressure the regime through an economic blockade that did not succeed in stopping the killing machine there. Even international organizations such as the Red Cross and others did not work, even with the great powers, in the establishment of humanitarian ways there. Even Kofi Annan, the envoy of the United Nations, and the Arab League have failed so far to persuade the regime to stop the killing machine aimed against his nation. I think that giving an opportunity to the Asad system to cease fire is nothing but a green light for the system to continue the killings. Even if this was not deliberate but accidental, the system will continue to kill until it meets a real deterrent that stops it. All of these initiatives that have taken place and are going on and will happen, if they do not learn from the past, the outcome will not be depending on the current data, but more bloodshed and death in Syria.
كمال حسني

2012-6-12

I am surprised that till now, no resolution has been issued against Syria or against Bashar Al Assad and those who assisted him in committing such heinous crimes against the people of Syria, killing and slaughtering of children, to force the people to stop the revolution against Bashar and defeat them. But this will further strengthen them and they will continue to demonstrate, so that they would unite against Bashar and those who follow him, especially its corrupt and wild army, which perpetrates crimes against the people and their own families and compatriots. You have Allah, O Syria, O people of Syria; I want you be patient until victory. You are the strongest with your faith and unity.
مدحت علي

2012-6-12

The Syrian people are facing death every day in the most heinous ways that can be imagined. With each passing day, more victims fall as a result of Bashar Al Assad's clinging to power. He even slaughtered children in their homes. How dare he committing such massacres? The Syrian revolution started following the ousting of several corrupt rulers, some of them died and others are till now in prison. The Syrian people rose to bring down a corrupt and unjust regime and ironically, lots of people died throughout Syria, and Bashar along with other officials, are unscrupulously only thinking about holding into power. What they committed anger God. Bashar is no longer thinking about his people he will be held accountable for all those who died. How someone could clings to power while people do not want him to rule? He wants to rule them by force. Since the death of Al Assad (father) his plan to pass power to his son Bashar is completely void. How the valiant Syrian people did approve of passing power to Bashar? Bashar Al Assad's seizing of power was supported by the international community, so that he follows into his father steps. When the Syrian people become unhappy with the situation and after they have derived strength from other revolutions, Bashar responded by declaring the war against his people without pity or mercy. How could a president of a State do what Bashar is doing to his people?