Headlines
UN Looking to Charge Syria as Death Toll Exceeds 5000
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December 13, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
UN wants to prosecute Syria at the International Criminal Court as protests mark nine month anniversary. Death toll tops 5000.
A report released by the United Nations today claims the death toll in Syria is in excess of 5000 people. The figure is a result of the violent uprisings that have been taking place in the country for nine months.
Additionally, 14,000 people are said to have been seriously injured and a further 12,400 are estimated to have left the country. The Syrian government has also claimed that 1000 police and security personnel have been killed as a result of the widespread violence.
Navi Pillay, the human rights chief for the UN, said that the torture and violence going on in the Gulf country is the reason that the UN want to take Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“It is based on the evidence and the widespread and systematic nature of the killings, the detentions and the acts of torture that I felt that these acts constituted crimes against humanity and I recommended that there should be a referral to the International Criminal Court,” said Ms Pillay.
Ms Pillay says that the protesters have calmed down since the uprising last March. However, attacks against the government have been increasing.
According to the Guardian, the protests began because the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, had shown indifference to his people and opponents.
A series of incidents such as an 18-year-old blogger Tal al-Mallouhi being brutally punished for writing about reforming her country enraged the Syrian people further.
As a result of the violence, the EU has imposed 10 rounds of sanctions against Syria and the Arab League has suspended the country’s membership. The UN has passed a resolution condemning Damascus.
By Louisa Guise
[Image courtesy of syriana2011]
