05/10/2012 Session
Strasbourg, 05.10.2012 - Pietro Marcenaro (Italy, SOC), Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has today condemned the “shocking human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions in public, floggings, amputations and stoning to death” inflicted on persons accused of crimes, outside any legal framework, by the armed Islamic groups operating in northern Mali, a country divided between the government-controlled south and the north controlled by extremist groups linked with the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram. These groups appear to be taking advantage of the destabilisation caused by recent events in the region, in particular the war in Libya.
“I have received several witness accounts not only of horrific physical punishments but also of sexual violence against women and the use of child soldiers. I urge all groups present in the region to put an end to these barbaric practices which are unacceptable in the 21st century”, said Mr Marcenaro.
“The situation in Mali and Nigeria is dangerous and represents a real threat not only to the countries themselves but also to the stability of the region, including the Maghreb countries. I support the efforts by the government of national union in Mali to preserve territorial unity and hold free and democratic elections as soon as possible”, he concluded.