Islamic State accused of 'ethnic cleansing on a historic scale'

Rural areas of Iraq turned into 'blood-soaked killing fields' as militants target ethnic minorities in north

Iraq refugee who fled Islamic State jihadists
(Image credit: Safin Hamed / AFP)

Amnesty International has warned that entire communities are "at risk of being wiped off the map of Iraq" as Islamic State carries out "ethnic cleansing on a historic scale".

The human rights organisation has uncovered new evidence to suggest the militants are "systematically and deliberately" targeting ethnic minorities in northern Iraq, with hundreds, possibly thousands, killed or abducted.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up