(Beirut) – On June 26, 2016, the Islamic State, known as ISIS, released a graphic video, reportedly from Deir al-Zor, Syria, showing its members executing five men said to be media workers. These horrific executions are yet another example of the atrocities committed by ISIS, and amount to war crimes.
One of the executed men, identified as Mustafa Hasseh, is filmed saying that he sent information about ISIS to Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch is unaware of Mustafa Hasseh ever working for the organization, nor have we had anyone working for Human Rights Watch from Deir al-Zor or other ISIS-controlled areas.
Human Rights Watch expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of the five victims. We remain committed to documenting violations of international law by all parties to the conflict in Syria, and doing so in a manner that does not put anyone at risk.
