Newsbrief: Iraqi authorities torturing children to confess Islamic State membership

by Alison Jankowski
edited by Paul Lambert

The Human Rights Watch claims that 1500 children were detained, tortured, and jailed by authorities in Iraq for alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) group, according to the BBC.

As a result, the Federal and Kurdistan Region’s governments were asked to amend their anti-terrorism laws because the alleged detentions violated International Law. Although they have yet to respond to these allegations they have denied earlier reports of children being tortured to confess to Islamic State links.

(Photo: BBC)

185 children have been convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to jail after trials. The children reported being beaten with pipes and cables while others endured daily torture until they confessed their association with the Islamic State.

The Iraqi children that have been released are afraid to return home due to the stigma associated with IS membership and fear of retaliation. This had led to permanent separation from their family and community. The Human Rights Watch reminds us that these children are victims who need to be rehabilitated and reintegrated back into society.