Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations envoy in Iraq are urging the country’s leaders to come together to address the rapidly deteriorating security situation and prevent sectarian reprisals amid the ongoing violence.


“I am deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iraq, including the reports of mass summary executions by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL),” Mr. Ban told reporters in Geneva today.

“There is a real risk of further sectarian violence on a massive scale, within Iraq and beyond its borders,” he added.

The security situation in Iraq has continued to deteriorate following last week’s capture of Mosul and other population centres by forces allied with ISIL. The violence has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people and has been marked by numerous human rights violations.

“I encourage all Iraqi leaders – political, military, religious and community – to ensure that their followers avoid acts of reprisal and come together in an inclusive spirit to address this serious threat to the country,” stated the UN chief, who has spoken to Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, as well as leaders in Turkey, Iran and other areas about the crisis.

“What is important at this time,” he added, “is that the Iraqi Government should have one State, whether they are Sunnis or Shi’ites or Kurds, they should be able to harmoniously live together, respecting and upholding human rights and values of the United Nations.”