255 Sunnis Executed in Iraq

According to Human Rights Watch, since June 9 at least 255 prisoners in Iraq have been executed in “extrajudicial killings.” The murdered prisoners were Sunni, and they appear to be revenge killings for atrocities inflicted by ISIS (also Sunni) by the Shia-majority security forces and militias. At least eight of those killed were boys under the age of 18. Investigators say most of the executions took place by shooting the prisoners, while in one case dozens were set on fire, and in two separate instances grenades were thrown into cells holding prisoners. The killings also may have come in response to reports that ISIS was freeing Sunni prisoners as it marched south.