Report on Mass Graves of Yazidis in Sinjar
Saturday, January 30th, 2016
by Matthew Barber
Yazda is a Yazidi humanitarian and advocacy organization founded after the attempted genocide of the Yazidis by IS on Aug. 3, 2014. Beginning this past fall, I took a one-year leave of absence from my PhD program at the University of Chicago to serve as Executive Director for Yazda during this period of urgent need. The accompanying responsibilities have unfortunately kept me away from Syria Comment of late.
One of Yazda’s projects is to document the crimes of genocide that were committed against the Yazidi people. Our genocide documentation project focuses on examining physical evidence of mass graves (bones, clothing, grave mounds) while gathering survivor testimonies to corroborate the physical evidence that we find.
Yazda is now issuing a full report on the mass graves in Sinjar, which is available on the Yazda website. VICE News has just published the full report here, and Human Rights Watch and Yazda have released a joint press statement on the urgency of protecting and performing forensic analyses of the mass graves.
The full report is also available for download here, and can be read in the PDF viewer below.
Comments (80)
Thomas Hood said:
> Mass Graves of Yazidis in Sinjar
All very interesting, but what the Islamic monsters who frequent this site want is a thousand times greater slaughter of Alawites, Christians, Assyrians, and Kurds. Islam, you see, needs a purified Syria. Thus the bizarre support of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Gulf States for Islamic massacre. This slaughter is actually American policy, as can be seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
January 30th, 2016, 12:46 pm
Mina said:
Unless the political authorities who DO have their say on religious policy oblige the clerics to explain to the masses that djihad is over, there is no hope of any change in the Arab and Islamic world.
January 31st, 2016, 4:08 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Once again, this time in Saida Zeynab (Damascus), we can see the machavelli politics. ISIS (Assad security apparatus branch) have attacked with terrorism to empower their position in the negotiations table. By sacrifying 60 people the get 2 main aims:
1- Unify all Damascus and specially chiites around the regime
2- Make Assad the victim of �Isis Terrorism�
This is not the first time Assad uses this strategy and it will not be the last time.
January 31st, 2016, 3:34 pm
Mina said:
if you’re in raqqa and you feel you’ve had enough, it’s easy, just google “how to leave”.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/186464/World/International/UK-mother-gets-six-years-for-joining-ISIS-group-in.aspx
what levels human stupidity can reach these days…
February 1st, 2016, 11:20 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
TOMAS HOOD
Your comment is as naive as islamophobic. For the last 40 years Assads in Syria, Saddam in Iraq, Gaddafi in Lybia have been massacring their own populations, not for religious matters but for any reason that could justify it in order to keep their asses in power.
I am a Christian but you are an ignorant and an islamophobist. The islam here has nothing to be with massacres. This is a war created by a mafia in power. Wonder who is feeding the ISIS and then you may dicover that the ethnic cleanse that takes place is Syria is promoted by Russia, Iran and CIA. The last step and climax of this syrians cleanse from their land will be the destruction of ISIS. But before this ISIS will make the dirty work of letting all minorities and the majority (arab sunnis and kurds sunnis) to leave Syria and north Iraq. Then US, Russia and Iran will dismantle the ISIS infrastructure and all will be over. Iran will take all of Syria and Iraq and will patrol the �rea in the name of US and Russia.
Islam is not the problem my dear, Islam is what they use for you to believe this whole ISIS theatre. They, CIA and Russian secret services in ccoperation with Assad and Iran are bringing the jihadists from al around (this is a real and global Al Qaeda or List at the service of the enemies of the arabs).
Really do you think that if US or Russia are not behind jihadists in Syria they could not probe their origin or could put the blame on Saudi Arabia or Turkey ? They do not have a single clue against anyone because they are behind ISIS. They create the monster and let the world be afraid of the unknown. Even the allow Isis to hit potential competitors like France or Turkey. Come on, that�s enough.
February 1st, 2016, 5:48 pm
Ghufran said:
Turkish Army fired 11 artillery shells towards Jabal �Ateiri in northern Latakia wounding 5 soldiers and causing material damage. Turkey is worried about the fact that latakia may be rebels free within few weeks after Salma and Rabi’aa were lost to the Syrian army leaving only Kinsabba as the last rebels stronghold in the area. Most rebels in the area belong to islamist militias that are dominated by Turkmen and non Syrian fighters.
February 1st, 2016, 10:25 pm
Ghufran said:
???
Aleppo
February 2nd, 2016, 9:38 am
Akbar Palace said:
Thomas Hood,
I noticed you didn’t mention the President of Syria in your post. Why not? Is Assad a factor? I think he is. After all, Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia have made it public knowledge that they want to prop him up and defend his regime. Conversely, the US has made it public knowledge that they want him out.
Meanwhile, President Assad didn’t even have an ISIS problem for the first year of the civil war, he was too busy killing civilians.
Cynically, the US doesn’t care whether or not this war continues or not, as long as it doesn’t spread. And because refugees are flooding the West, I guess that is why the US is interested in a peace treaty at this time. Personally, I don’t know who is going to defeat ISIS, but it will take a coordinated effort. And once ISIS is gone, you can bet the next fish to fry will be the Assad family, especially if a Republican wins the nomination to be the next US president. By that time, Russia will pull back or be made to.
February 2nd, 2016, 12:29 pm
Mina said:
obviously the Turks show little commitment for peace
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/186656/World/Region/Fears-for-Kurds-trapped-in-besieged-town-in-Turkey.aspx
February 3rd, 2016, 8:52 am
Ghufran said:
Thawrajiyyeh and GCC media nowadays are worse than SANA and similar to Saddam’s propaganda minister Sahhaf (who is a Shia by the way), people who do not look at other sources of info might believe the tragic misrepresentations that filled the pages of pro rebels sites. Hiding the truth is a form of lying. Geneva 3 will probably collapse, Russia and Iran will not give free money to the clowns who are employed by GCC and Turkey and will not sign anything with thugs like Alloush army and Ashrar Al-sham. The regime will only do what Russia and Iran agree to even if that means prolonging the war. This is Syria today and that is a reflection of how divided and dependent syrians are, do not fool yourself by believing otherwise.
February 3rd, 2016, 11:53 am
ghufran said:
Back to square one. Alloush and Hijab hinted that Rebels will launch a counter attack soon.
February 3rd, 2016, 6:47 pm
Hopeful said:
#11 Ghufran
“Back to square one”
Regime supporters are cheering. Rebels on the ground feel vindicated. But the majority of Syrians are mourning.
February 3rd, 2016, 11:17 pm
Ghufran said:
The circle around Aleppo is being completed and can not be broken without direct military intervention from Turkey. The only way to prevent a blood bath in Aleppo is to reach a cease fire but that is easier said than done, rebels are mostly islamist militias and believe that the only way to go to heaven is to get killed on the battlefield while regime leaders see no benefit of a political deal that will almost surely reduce their influence or eliminate it altogether.
I agree that most Syrians have lost and continue to lose because their rulers and the rebels along with Syria’s friends (and enemies ) have no interest in the welfare of Syrians.
February 4th, 2016, 11:50 am
Ghufran said:
“Moderate” rebels shelled Dara’a ( the birth place of the “revolution” and killed 17 civilians and wounded over 100. Erdogan as of now is not allowing fleeing rebels and more than 40,000 civilians to enter Turkey.
February 4th, 2016, 7:08 pm
Passerby said:
Well, looks like Russia (and Iran) have given the Assad Syndicate the victory. And it looks like it’ll take the predicted 6 months to essentially finish it.
It worked, the Assads teaming up with the Saddam Regime/ISIS against everyone else, with some stops and starts, has worked. Any do-gooders were finished off long ago, but now it’s everyone but ISIS.
So, now the Saudis are real eager to get the US to help them invade Iraq/Syria to get rid of ISIS, say they will donate troops. No doubt. Train is leaving that station.
Need to end it, get it over with, too bad the Assad’s get away with it, but it’s a bad neighborhood, there is no alternative.
Well, it really torments Erdogan, there’s that, he won’t even have ISIS much longer.
February 4th, 2016, 10:34 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
At this moment everybody must accept idea that Obama sold Syria to Russia and Iran by July 2015 Agreements with Iran.
From that day until now it is a question of time until syrians flee or die and the revolution is crushed. Once the rebels surrender then ISIS will be dismantled by the intelligent services that created and support it and the Houthis is Yemen will stop receiving aid from Iran.
Syrian refugees will never come back to Syria, specially if they are sunnis or were in the rebel side.
That�s all. No need to argue more.
February 5th, 2016, 3:03 am
Passerby said:
No Sandro, the revolution was doomed when they accepted Al-Qaeda and ISIS as their leaders. They may have been doomed before that, but they were definitely doomed then.
Seems that would be obvious, and informative that it isn’t.
February 5th, 2016, 5:27 am
Hopeful said:
#17 Passerby
Obama (and the US) gave moral, financial, humanitarian and political support to the Syrian revolution (and still does). No one can dispute that. But Obama never “owned” Syria to have the right to “sell” it. The opposition failed to make him own it, by first insisting that they did not need the US’s military help, and later on by making an even bigger blunder by defying the US’s designation of Jabhat Alnusrah as a terrorist organization.
It is unfair to say that the “revolution” made Alqaeda and ISIS their leaders, but its true that the lack of denunciation of Alnusrah and its actions has contributed greatly to its losing credibility in the West (and among many Syrians I may add).
February 5th, 2016, 5:44 am
mjabali said:
It is really sad not to see Syrians sitting across the table from each other and talk on how to stop this war as soon as possible.
February 5th, 2016, 10:17 am
Passerby said:
Hi Hopeful,
Well, maybe making Al-Qaeda and ISIS their leader is a bit strong.
But plenty have gone over to ISIS/Saddam Regime, their leader then.
And I’ve asked everyone on this forum to name one group that has any real turf that isn’t subservient to Al-Qaeda, so I could look into them, but no one up to now has been able to name one.
They were drowning and grabbed the only thing available, terrorists, not like you can blame them, but it doomed them for sure, as Assad planned. The best friend Assad has had is those demanding we remove him before we remove ISIS.
February 5th, 2016, 10:43 am
Hopeful said:
#20 Passrby
Depends on how you define “real turf”. The heroes of Darya, for example, clearly come to mind. There are others.
February 5th, 2016, 12:30 pm
Passerby said:
Daraa isn’t subservient to Al-Qaeda? No shortage of Al-Qaeda there it seems. The government holds half the city. What is the name of the group not subservient that controls the most “turf” in Daraa?
———–
Al-Qaeda top commander found dead in Syria�s Daraa
Top commander of al-Qaeda branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, was found dead after gunmen raided his office in Syria�s southern city of Daraa on Thursday.
Anas Abu Nabbut, aka Abu Abdullah, was killed by gunmen in the Balad district in central Daraa.
Nusra Front confirmed in a statement the death of its commander in Daraa, without providing further details on the incident…
http://aranews.net/2016/01/al-qaeda-top-commander-found-dead-in-syrias-daraa/
February 5th, 2016, 2:03 pm
Passerby said:
Around three months ago, shortly after Russia’s (and Iran’s) commitment, I stuck my neck out and predicted there wouldn’t be anything left of Al-Qaeda and ISIS/Saddam Regime, in Syria, except in pockets, in six months. Sure looked like a long shot then, not so much now…
An easy prediction, superior military force in open battle, with Putin willing to do whatever it takes. Not so easy now, lots of humans under pressure making decisions…
Yeah, barring outside interference, Russia etc. will finish off the non-ISIS “rebels” and roll east driving ISIS/Saddam Regime from the country. Might cause a collapse in Iraq too. And Iran would pretty much control everything from Iran to Lebanon, with 150 billion new dollars to spend and open trade with the world.
So, now Turkey and the Gulf States, absolutely horrified by the notion of this Assad-Iran total victory, are talking about sending troops into Syria. In the case of the Gulf States, the excuse is to fight ISIS, which after all these years, is all of a sudden a top priority. Turkey, it’s mostly accusations from Russia, and far from clear it has anything to do with the ISIS excuse. But the same thing, all of a sudden, they want to put their boots on the ground in Syria.
And of course, they’d like the US do do their fighting and spending money for them. Uncle Patsy. Not that Iran running amok across the Middle East is good news to just about anyone.
And just how the heck is this going to work, Turkey and the Gulf States and any patsies they can get to go along will then run that part of Syria after ISIS is gone? Do their own little election?
And Assad, and Iran, and Russia are going to just meekly back off and be ok with that? Granted a lower official, but Russia says that would be an act of war in international law.
——-
No way Obama is going to go to war in Syria with big ground forces in his last year. Get a clue. So safe to say the Gulf States aren’t invading, and we’ve established Egypt/Pakistan etc. won’t fight for them. Will Erdogan do something stupid? Will there be an accident that spins out of control?
And finally, will ISIS/Saddam Regime just meekly let themselves be crushed, or will they do something really nasty before they go down, changing everything. They’ve had years and millions of people and billions of dollars, and all the know-how of the Saddam Hussein Regime.
February 5th, 2016, 9:22 pm
Hopeful said:
#22 Passerby
Not “Daraa” – I said “Darya” (Daraya – ?????)
February 5th, 2016, 11:18 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
The queation is no Al Qaeda or ISIS. The question is the world status quo has decided to keep Assad on power and let the popular uprising die under bullets first, and then those who rose in arms died under TNT barrels, and under russian missiles now.
Do not lose yours arguments on who is Al Qaeda, who is the less bad solution or who os the strategic power.
The only practical question so we can get conclussions is that the people of Syria has been crushed by all world and regional powers. Some for them via direct action, others by inaction.
February 6th, 2016, 4:45 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
The revolution was over the day Obama decided not to punish Assad for the nuclear attacks.
The peace between Assad-Iran-Russia and US was signed on July 2015.
The end of the war will come in some weeks or maximum months when rebels flee to Turkey or die under siege.
Assad�s Syria is eternal. Assad is God, Assad Lilabad
February 6th, 2016, 4:47 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
In the previous post #26 by mistake I said NUCLEAR ATTACK where I should say CHEMICAL ATTACK. Anyway I am sure even in the event of a nuclear attack the International Community had done nothing.
February 6th, 2016, 6:19 am
ALAN said:
THOMAS HOOD
Thank you for your positive partisipations
February 6th, 2016, 8:18 am
omen said:
Stop the presses! after 5 years of Assad Butchery, MJ is finally sad about something.
Too bad it’s crocodile tears for failed talks he knows been a charade from the start meant to buy Assad time to kill more despised Wahhabists AKA children.
February 6th, 2016, 9:15 am
omen said:
Why does this blog fail to cover Assad’s systematic use of starvation? Why are there no calls for officials to do food drops? Policy makers rely on this site to get a pulse of events on the ground. There is no sense of urgency conveyed about the crisis. Intentional? or oversight?
February 6th, 2016, 9:45 am
mjabali said:
Crybaby Omen:
Trying to control people’s ideas and emotions is the highest form of BS especially when coming from paid propagandists….
February 6th, 2016, 2:28 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Mjabali. For me your views represent the criminal classist sectarian 5% that own the regime (no state anymore)
February 6th, 2016, 6:52 pm
mjabali said:
Sandro Low :
You outed yourself here …should we call you Omen?
You are the same person….
February 6th, 2016, 8:15 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
MJARALIK
You are the cancer of Syria. As long as there are people like you hidden in free countries and the brave Young men diing in the battle filed Syria will slowly die.
February 7th, 2016, 5:49 am
omen said:
31. MJABALI said:
you are so cute when you are frustrated.
February 7th, 2016, 11:40 am
ALAN said:
Saudi family should understand that Washington is treating the KSA in the same way that London used to treat Saddam Hussein � according to the principle of �throw away after use.� Using the resources of the KSA to break up Iraq and Syria, Washington strategists would get rid of Saudi Arabia on the next turn, as it was eloquently shown by Ralph Peters� maps back in 2005, where four new kingdoms replaced the Saudi one.
https://purpleslog.wordpress.com/2006/07/15/ralph-peters-new-map/
February 7th, 2016, 5:07 pm
Ghufran said:
Saudi Air Force has refused to bomb the Yemeni Al-Qaeda faction �Ansar Al-Shariah� and the so-called �Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham� (ISIS) in southern Yemen. Isis and Alqaeda in return will limit their activities to bombing Shia mosques and attacking KSA enemies in Yemen and other countries. You can not make chicken soup out of chicken poop.
February 7th, 2016, 6:12 pm
apple_mini said:
Winning decisively in Aleppo really kicks the hornet’s nest among the opposition and its supporting goons.
Among all the criticism, something is distinctively missing–the losing and beaten-up rebels are predominately terrorist group Nusra and its ilk–a major elision in any honest reporting or analysis, except in effective propaganda.
Contrary to the predicated south movement to encircle Aleppo, SAA and militias went up north to eliminate the last stronghold of the terrorists up to the border to Turkey. Such planning indicates the long-term strategies to end this maddening war. It also showcases the strength and meticulous execution of the army. Actually, it seems more likely a work of Iranian advisers.
Forget about Turkey and Saudi’s bluffing and dirty schemes, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I predicate the war will be tapering off by the end of this year.
Americans might like what they are witnessing: In Syria, only well-equipped and determined SAA against ISIS; Inevitably, final clash between SAA and ISIS and the one between Iraqi army and ISIS with ISIS getting caught in the middle.
February 7th, 2016, 10:09 pm
Hopeful said:
#38 Apple_mini
“Americans might like what they are witnessing: In Syria, only well-equipped and determined SAA against ISIS; Inevitably, final clash between SAA and ISIS and the one between Iraqi army and ISIS with ISIS getting caught in the middle.”
If this means the end of the war, the end of ISIS and Alnusrah, and the end of dictatorship, then I like what I see as well.
It seems that the US is also gearing up to send ground troops to Syria. They will push ISIS back in the east and take a position to ensue that the Russians/Assad do not back out on the deal to transition Assad out by letting the UN organize fee elections. I think even the Russians are not sure that Assad is willing to step down, but I suspect if it comes to it, they will be the ones to take care of him if he resists. All in all, I am actually hopeful the end of the tunnel is near.
February 7th, 2016, 11:39 pm
Ghufran said:
It takes courage and humility from those who advocated a military rebellion to admit that they betrayed their country and participated in its destruction. The price of keeping arms away and rejecting foreign intervention and “help” would have been much less than what Syrians have paid and still paying since 2011, but you can not fix stupid. Assad and his cronies will depart sooner or later but Syria has lost its soul and its ability to feed its children and pay the bills. Regardless of who wins Syria will not be independent in my lifetime and unbearable security and economic conditions will make it much harder for the educated youth to stay insude the country.
?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????
February 7th, 2016, 11:50 pm
omen said:
Question for Dr. Matthew,
Why no examination of ISIS state support? Can’t excise cancer by simply focusing on symptom.
February 8th, 2016, 9:07 pm
elian said:
is this blog becoming irrelevant given the professor uses twitter and face book instead of this blog.
February 8th, 2016, 10:03 pm
Observer said:
Mjabali would be kind enough to comment on this news item. Again I am just asking not trying to make any points here. If you can tell me what you think I would be grateful
http://syrianobserver.com/EN/News/30519/Alawite_Militias_Operating_Unchecked_Lattakia_Is_Assad_Regime_Losing_Control
February 9th, 2016, 7:54 am
mjabali said:
Observer:
There are gangs who kidnap and rob people: I do not think they belong to these fighting militias the article mentioned…Some members of these militias behave above the law here and there also but not to the extent the article is talking about. The Alawites went to the streets when Sulayman killed that Colonel. Al Assad is not going to let this dissent happen.
As for the inter Alawite feud the article mentioned I do not think it is correct. Iran would not interfere like that. Iran had been trying to enter the coast for many years. They succeeded through building some mosques in villages here and there, but these mosques failed to flourish and turn the Alawites into Shia.
Also, the article did not mention that the Iranians and other Shia who are in the coast now are mainly members of Suqur al-Sahra, which is headed by a loyalist.
February 10th, 2016, 12:45 am
ALAN said:
https://youtu.be/YbEsH0eoKm8
February 10th, 2016, 1:11 am
Observer said:
Thanks
February 10th, 2016, 7:13 am
Ghufran said:
Regime loyalists are trying to put a lid on a major assault against a unit from republican guard at Tal Al-Sawwan near Douma were more than 60 soldiers were ambushed and killed with scores missing. That happened after the unit tried to penetrate deeper into territories near Douma without adequate cover and support. Things would have been very different today if the army took charge in 2011 and forced King Assad and his team into early retirement. One of the major factors that protected the regime was the work of security chiefs especially the AFI headed by Jamil Hassan. AFI put spies in every army unit and arrested anybody who was a threat or a potential threat to Assad including alawi politicians like dr AA Al-khayyer and many non-violent figures.
Syrian opposition that led the fight against Assad did not only betray their own constituents they also betrayed many alawites who were ready to support a new more inclusive and more accountable government. The GCC, Turkey and religious zealots have hijacked then killed what was supposed to be a movement for freedom and dignity. Early slogans changed and we started seeing YouTube videos about ” those nusayrieh and rafidahs ” and how ” Islam is the solution”.
??? ????? ?? ????? ?????
This is a war that used poor people from all sides to promote the interests of the few.
February 10th, 2016, 8:49 am
ALAN said:
The psychopaths in Washington, London, Riyadh and Ankara are prepared to save their terrorist foot soldiers from final defeat. They instigated the Syrian crisis in yet another illegal regime change operation, they are responsible for over 250,000 dead, millions displaced, and the refugee crisis currently hitting Europe. These criminal regimes must be held accountable and brought to justice.
February 10th, 2016, 1:54 pm
ALAN said:
https://youtu.be/9VI5qpK_Sc0
February 10th, 2016, 2:24 pm
Juergen said:
Why Are Russian Engineers Working at an Islamic State-Controlled Gas Plant in Syria?
Moscow says it’s at war with the jihadist group — but both sides aren’t opposed to cutting economic deals amid the bloodshed.
Officially, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad�s government and his Russian allies are at war against the Islamic State. But a gas facility in northern Syria under the control of the jihadi group is evidence that business links between the Syrian regime and the Islamic State persist. According to Turkish officials and Syrian rebels, it is also the site of cooperation between the Islamic State and a Russian energy company with ties to President Vladimir Putin.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/09/why-are-russian-engineers-working-at-an-islamic-state-controlled-gas-plant-in-syria/
February 10th, 2016, 2:42 pm
Ghufran said:
It is hard to tell who is worse for Syria, Turkey or KSA but Turkey is clearly a bigger threat to Syria’s terrirorial integrity and independence for geographical and historical reasons. All eyes are on the Turkish army as syrian troops and their allies are now only 45 km from Tabqa airport outside raqqa and are about to complete a ring of fire around Aleppo.
Where are the people here who said Putin will not respond to Turkey ?
February 10th, 2016, 11:57 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Putin, the Great Tzar has a small problem: oil is now 26 USD a barrel.
Russia will bankrupt in months. It looks they want to end the syrian war by conquesting Aleppo but saudis will not ease the oil market anyway.
What will happen next? ISIS attacks in Saudi Arabia ? Or London, Paris, Istanbul ?
February 11th, 2016, 3:46 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
ISIS fights rebels not Assad while creates area for Assad to enter SAA
ISIS oil camps are run by russian engineers, offering oil to Assad.
ISIS men with hidden faces are russian elite corps.
ISIS is fed by jihadists brought covered ops.
ISIS videos and executions were mastered by russian secret services on the ground.
ISIS attacks Paris, Saudia, Turkey but not Tehran, Moscow or US.
Why ?
Because ISIS is Russia and Assad.
February 11th, 2016, 3:50 am
SANDRO LOEWE said:
World Markets are crushing as a consequence of rummors bank system could fail due to oil companies bankrupcy. Oil companies bankrupcy is the result of Obama and Putin attack against demographics in the Middle East. They try to ethnic cleanse the arab sunna and relocate chia instead. Saudis and Turkey will use the last bullet: oil and financial markets
February 11th, 2016, 4:32 am
SimoHurtta said:
Propaganda machines seem to be in panic mode.
The “Syrian Center for Policy Research” SCPR report of that over one of ten Syrian is now killed or wounded gets much space in western media including here in Finland. Very few ask the question is it really true that 2,4 million Syrians are now killed or wounded? The newspaper stories about the report are full of exact statistical details of reduced life expectancy and economical “facts”.
Making such level statistical demographic analyses demands a very good data basis of the nation’s people and economy. Without that data basis got with census the analyses are at the best pure estimations and at the worst pure invented PROPAGANDA. In the state in which Syria has been the last years and when nobody is able to collect reliable country wide data, it is rather absurd to pretend, that the presented estimations are real facts.
Google search doesn’t reveal much what “Syrian Center for Policy Research” actually is. It is in a way hilarious that these organizations like “Syrian Center for Policy Research”, “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights” and “Syrian Network for Human Rights” with their absurd exact numeric details get so much attention in western press without the reporters asking what are these organizations exactly and how are they able to produce so exact “real time” data of the amount of victims. Example of the amount of victims in Finnish state owned broadcasting company.
Can anybody really take seriously such exact table of amount how different parties killed civilians in 2015:
Government 12,044 – Rebels 1,072 – ISIS 1,366 – Syrian Al Qaida 89 -, Russia 849 and International coalition 277. Especially when the “collecting” organization is based in Britain? They really must have a astonishing data collecting network if they really can claim that the figures are based on real facts from the whole country. How can a the collector in Britain be sure that the phone call he gets form ISIS area about killed civilians is the truth? Or the phone call telling how many children a Russian bomb just killed? What if the data collecting network exists only in the government areas and not in rebel held areas?
February 11th, 2016, 6:59 am
mjabali said:
Simo said ” Propaganda machines seem to be in panic mode”
Then he got 5 thumbs down by one person as obvious ….not even a small attempt to hide their loss….tsk tsk tsk…
February 11th, 2016, 12:48 pm
ALAN said:
Obama administration is frantically searching for ways to either delay or derail the Russian-led juggernaut and avoid the impending collapse of US policy in Syria?
It�s worth noting that the Russian-led military offensive clearly hews to UN resolution 2254
Moscow is not going to comply with any ceasefire that spares homicidal jihadists or undermines UN resolution 2254. Russian military operations are going to continue until ISIS, al Nusra and the other terrorist militias are defeated.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the US in their reaction to the encirclement of Aleppo feel their regional ambitions are more closely aligned with those of the jihadists than with the elected government in Damascus. This tacit alliance between the militants and their sponsors speaks volumes about the credibility of Washington�s fake war on terror.
US A-10s bombed city of Aleppo on Wednesday, shifted blame onto Moscow
https://www.rt.com/news/332109-russian-jets-isis-warlords/
February 11th, 2016, 3:35 pm
Observer said:
For a change of scenery here is science in action a testimony to how the use of the human mind can be so rewarding in the right direction in comparison to the use of the mind for stupidity. Looking at the leaders of the world today from East to West stupidity is certainly on the ascendant. As for thumbs up and down even a thanks got a stupid vote. How can a Thank You note get either an up or down vote is beyond me. But hey stupidity is also present on this blog.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/science/ligo-gravitational-waves-black-holes-einstein.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
February 11th, 2016, 3:51 pm
Tara said:
Susu (Simo)
How much the Persians are paying you? And how did they find you? Your secular Shiaa wife?
I need a job , badly . Can your wife make me a paid propagandist if the Wali Faqih.
February 11th, 2016, 6:21 pm
SimoHurtta said:
Taru (Tara) Persians pay me one million euros weekly, Putin’s boys two million and Assad’s clan in these financial difficult times send mee dates (10 kg per month). Sorry Tara but they do not want hire you, I asked, they think that you are not tallented enough (though they all used a much more ruder expression) for the job. Well you could go to the ISIS slave markets, ask your own market price (100 euros ?) and find a religiously awarding simple job among your own. Do what you do best.
February 11th, 2016, 7:28 pm
Ghufran said:
A tip of knowledge from oil gurus:
16% of Russia’s gdp comes from oil and gas and its economy shrunk by less than 5% in 2015. The pain of low oil prices is shared by many nations including ksa. Demand is low and supply is not. The fix may not come as quickly as people in the oil industry want. The price of oil today is fair according to market data, what we saw prior to 2013 was a bubble, a sharp increase is unlikely unless a major regional war erupts in the Middle East or a sudden destabilizing change in ksa is seen, both scenarios are not realistic. Even if a number of small oil companies go bankrupt the effect on oil prices will not be enough to revive the oil economy. Governments and big companies are spending cash and borrowing and laying off people, the big dudes are safe.
February 11th, 2016, 8:04 pm
Tara said:
Simo, it is Teu Teu , brilliant you. You brought up the propagandist so I wanted to familiarize our audience with a Finn prototype. I do not qualify as a slave to ISIS as I am Sunni and in their eye, I am a free woman . I also do not qualify for prostitution-made legal by ??? ?????? as you can qualify. They take men slave too . You will be labeled as ?????. She and you too can easily foot the bill.
Again , how much they pay per post?
February 11th, 2016, 8:44 pm
Ghufran said:
World powers have agreed to seek a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” in Syria to begin in a week’s time, after talks in Germany.
The halt will not apply to the battle against jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and al-Nusra Front.
February 11th, 2016, 9:15 pm
Ghufran said:
The Syrian tragedy in numbers:
The Syrian Center for Policy Research reported that 400,000 Syrians have been killed since the outbreak of the crisis as opposed to the latest UN toll of 260,000. The report added that another 70,000 people have perished due to the lack of adequate health services, food, clean water, sanitation and proper housing, especially for those displaced within conflict zones. It further noted that Syria�s mortality rate soared from 4.4 per thousand in 2010 to 10.9 per thousand in 2015, and life expectancy plunged from 70 in 2010 to 55.4 in 2015. The report also put the number of those wounded at 1.9 million, stating that 11.5 percent of Syria�s population has been killed or injured since the crisis broke out in March 2011. �We think that the UN documentation and informal estimation underestimated the casualties due to lack of access to information during the crisis,� Rabie Nasser, the author of the report, told The Guardian on Thursday. Moreover, 6.36 million people have been displaced internally and more than four million others have fled the country since the beginning of the conflict. That accounts for 45 percent of the country�s population, which has shrunk by 21 percent. About 13.8 million Syrians have also lost their source of income. Poverty increased by 85 percent in 2015 alone and consumer prices rose 53 percent last year. �Prices in conflict zones and besieged areas are much higher than elsewhere in the country and this boosts profit margins for war traders who monopolize the markets of these regions,� the report said. Infrastructure and institutions have been �almost obliterated� by the �catastrophic impact� of the militancy, and the overall economic losses are estimated at $255 billion. �Despite the fact that Syrians have been suffering for� five years, global attention to human rights and dignity for them only intensified when the crisis had a direct impact on the societies of developed countries,� the report argued.
February 11th, 2016, 11:47 pm
Passerby said:
Ok, a ceasefire for everyone except Nusra and ISIS. Just how does that work?
Only bomb the Aleppo areas under Nusra control? Are there areas clearly under the control of Nusra or non-Nusra or are they all mixed up and changing? All Nusra has to do to avoid Russia/Iran/Assad is to intermingle with other rebels?
And Nusra’s buddies, they are just going to sit there as all the firepower in now concentrated on any areas under Nusra control, assuming such a thing can be identified? The Regime still making huge gains, isolating them in small pockets and they will just sit there?
Well, Russia is in control. They have their hands on the levers, no one else. If the Rebels and supporters don’t play ball, Assad has total victory. Assad doesn’t play ball, Russia cuts off the support and Assad is defeated. Putin has done it, he has taken control and given whatever “moderates” exist a way to survive, while destroying ISIS and Nusra.
—
And Erdogan? What a loser. He could have used the Turkish military with lots of allies against a hated Assad, when moderates still existed. But he chose instead to support Sunni terrorists. Now he faces S-400 and state of the art Russian jets and a host of imported Shiite killers from across the planet.
He’s going to invade now and take on the Russian air force (with the long arm of Russia’s ICBM’s behind it?)
Loser.
February 12th, 2016, 2:09 am
Badr said:
“Passerby: Assad doesn�t play ball, Russia cuts off the support”
What do you think Russia wants from Assad to agree to do?
February 12th, 2016, 4:37 am
SimoHurtta said:
62. Tara said:
Simo, it is Teu Teu , brilliant you. You brought up the propagandist so I wanted to familiarize our audience with a Finn prototype. I do not qualify as a slave to ISIS as I am Sunni and in their eye, I am a free woman . I also do not qualify for prostitution-made legal by ??? ?????? as you can qualify. They take men slave too . You will be labeled as ?????. She and you too can easily foot the bill.
Again , how much they pay per post?
Well Tara you are a SUNNI (extremist) as you your self claim now and have brought up so many times before. ISIS is a SUNNI organization, one of the many with equal mindset. You in your comment directly confess your sect’s religious basis to approve the slaving of us non-Sunnis. Tara are you really living in USA with those opinions? Are you allowed to fly? Well when Trump comes to the driving wheel then …
Tara they (Persians, Putins and Assads) pay me about 200,000 euros per post. 3 million monthly divided by 15 monthly posts on average is that. I know Tara that you can not count so difficult “problems” with your 8 fingers and 9 toes, but the sum is about that. If you need work suggestions Tara, have you ever considered a professional camel rider in contests carrier in Saudi Arabia? Ups I forget in Saudi Arabia free Sunni women can not drive alone cars, so I believe also riding a camel without a man is impossible for free Sunni women. So we must continue finding you a profession. Now we have found out that no work for you as a propagandist, ISIS slave or a camel driver in SA.
In SA you free Sunni women are not able to buy alone a cup of coffee. Free indeed in a religious Sunni style. Should we speak about religious based FGM Tara?
February 12th, 2016, 4:55 am
ALAN said:
Mr Putin! Please set up the second airfield in the north east of Syria with S400s and all electronic warfare equipment to block an american radars and electronic communications at the base. Without electronics the U.S. won’t be flying anything into there. The Russians brothers could demand registration of all flights in and out, forcing ” our partners ” into compliance with international law.
February 12th, 2016, 2:22 pm
ALAN said:
Rothschild puppet George Soros pushing for war with Russia
http://www.hangthebankers.com/rothschild-puppet-george-soros-pushing-war-russia/
February 12th, 2016, 3:40 pm
Tara said:
Simo
And you confessed that you have dreams to be ISIS’ slave .
I think they pay you 10$ a post. And the way you are are now exposed , I think they are going to pay you $ 5 a post
February 12th, 2016, 6:23 pm
ALAN said:
https://youtu.be/JvyEiUqGqcs
February 13th, 2016, 3:34 pm
Observer said:
Now Ghufran always makes fun of the Syrian people and in a sense this video is nice rebuttal of his pessimism regarding the Syrian people.
There are 24 million that are fully capable of replacing the fanatics on both sides
http://www.aksalser.com/news/2016/02/13/???-??-???-?????-??????-?-??????-????/
February 13th, 2016, 5:50 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
ALAN,
Your war-mongers and war crminals LAVROV, PUTIN, KERRY and OBAMA look as if executing the genocide will be not so easy as it seems.
Turkey starts attacks on kurdish and assadists mercenaries.
Saudi jets are ready for action in turkish airbases.
February 13th, 2016, 6:27 pm
Ghufran said:
I agree that Syrians if given the tools are able to come up with a better and more accountable government, the choice between assad and the islsmists is not a choice it is a trap. Nusra is showing signs of weakening but they are in 12 provinces at least, that makes a cease fire very difficult to implement. Nusra’s pulling of fighters from Hama is an ominous sign for Nusra lovers.
February 13th, 2016, 8:29 pm
Passerby said:
Hi Badr,
I think Russia’s requirement for continued support is somewhat moderate behavior in victory. To the extent any “moderate” rebels exist, they will be spared and the millions of refugees will be permitted to return safely etc.
I’d say they aren’t wedded to Assad, and maybe they’d press for somewhat less totalitarian rule, but they need a strong man and it’s the only option at the moment.
February 13th, 2016, 8:57 pm
Passerby said:
Turkey strikes Kurd, regime forces in Syria, mulls ground attack
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-saudi-could-launch-anti-ground-operation-syria-101537595.html
Someone needs to tell that Toad in Turkey that if he wants to go to war with Russia, he is on his own.
So, the Toad is bombing the Kurds to punish them for taking cities from ISIS, trying to drive them back so ISIS can take back control. Yeah, they have a problem with the Kurds, but we have a problem with ISIS that they are protecting. Ok, you go fight Russia and their S-400’s and ICBMS to protect ISIS.
Mercifully, Traitorbama is scared of his own shadow.
February 13th, 2016, 9:09 pm
Ghufran said:
Raqqa
February 13th, 2016, 10:51 pm
ALAN said:
/Saudi jets are ready for action in turkish airbases/.
Mr Putin! Please! set up the second airfield in the north of Syria with S400s and all electronic warfare equipment to block Jackal radars and electronic communications.Must prevail the Kurds in their war against the evil of ISIS.
http://journal-neo.org/2016/02/14/turkey-is-the-source-not-solution-to-isis-and-the-syrian-crisis/
February 14th, 2016, 12:18 pm
Passerby said:
Look at it from Erdogan’s viewpoint, it’s a total disaster for him personally.
Turkey stuck with 3 million refugees unless they cut a deal with the triumphant Assad. All those Turkey supported, including the Turkmen decimated and driven out. A unified Syria with the pesky Kurds all along the border, and no bombing a healthy Syria, if you don’t want to be bombed in return. And of course, the oil bonanza cut off.
And all that trade with Russia…pfffft.
Not that public opinion decides anything in totalitarian regimes like in Turkey, but getting humiliated and hard economic times can’t make their job easier.
So, Erdogan is a cornered rat. Dangerous, nothing to lose.
February 14th, 2016, 12:56 pm
ALAN said:
Syrian Cease-Fire? Nine Simple Questions.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44205.htm
February 14th, 2016, 1:33 pm