Peace and security needed in Iraq and Syria

In considering how best to help close down the cycles of violence in the Middle East, which are taking so many lives, there are no easy answers. However, there is the certainty that killing people rarely kills their ideas. I joined an anti-war rally organised by Stop The War Coalition, yesterday, in support of calls to stop the bombing of Iraq and Syria. 

We must continue to condemn the atrocities threatened or committed by ISIS against various groups not sharing their convictions. These include all religious and ethnic minorities such as Christians, Yezidi, Shabak and Turkmen, but also Shiites and Sunnis.

The odious assassination by ISIS of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers, David Haines and Alan Henning are denounced. Our thoughts are with their families and for the release of all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe.

In the UK Government's recent debate, the Green MP Caroline Lucas did not support the decision to carry out air strikes in Iraq against the so called Islamic State (ISIL). The focus is best place not on whether to bomb but how we can intensify work politically and diplomatically to address the fundamental hostility between Sunnis and Shias – with regional powers such as Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia centre stage along with support for a fledgling new Iraqi government.

Ongoing support is needed for the Iraqi Government and its Parliament to ensure that an urgent review of legislation and legal practice, as well as reform its judicial system and security apparatus is undertaken. In Iraq, there is a need to implement inclusive policies towards all Iraqis to end the policy of discrimination against, notably, the Sunni population.

The activities of those countries and/or their citizens who have given ideological or material support to IS or other extremist Islamist groups, notably Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, as well as Turkey and Syria should be condemned. All those states have to take concrete measures to stop all support, whether state-sponsored or sponsored by private individuals, for IS- and Al Qaeda affiliated groups.

Our best hope of reducing the numbers radicalised would be to champion a new foreign policy doctrine based on clear, consistently applied principles.  This should include not selling arms to brutal regimes like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In view of the thousands of Europeans reportedly being recruited as fighters by ISIS, support can be given for a policy change in European Union Member States that stresses the need to develop policies to actively combat social exclusion and lack of prospects, particularly in the case of the second- and third-generation immigrant population;

A campaign to enhance the notion of Islam as an integral part of European culture can be supported and also, the condemning of the intention of several European Union governments to revoke the citizenship of dual citizens who might return from the Middle East battlegrounds has to be maintained.

The European Union and other international leaders can identify and focus on the profound socio-economic, cultural and political roots of the ISIS phenomenon. ISIS has emerged from a bedrock of protracted human rights violations, marginalisation and discrimination of entire groups, notably Sunnis, as well as a long history of external manipulation and intervention by regional and Western governments.

Continued support has to be expressed for the peace, security and development which has been achieved in the Kurdish autonomous region, which should absolutely be preserved, and appeal to the Kurds to pursue their right of self-determination in a negotiated manner;

An increase in the number of refugees from Iraq and Syria granted stay in Europe, including the Yezidi, who constitute a particularly fragile and often persecuted minority should be a priority. The coordination of the reception of refugees should be organised with all urgency and that the European Union needs to set up an emergency programme to this end.

Useful Link:

Situation in Iraq and Syria and the ISIS offensive - Greens/EFA motion for resolution

http://www.greens-efa.eu/situation-in-iraq-and-syria-and-the-isis-offensive-12752.html