The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
June 15, 2012

Syria: New Reports of Sexual Abuse, Carnage as Gov’t Shells Rebel Areas 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
In news from Syria, violence and shelling by Syrian troops have been
reported across the country as the government attempts to reclaim areas
held by rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. The attacks come a
day after UN monitors described widespread carnage in the village of Al
Heffa in northwestern Syria, which had been under siege by government
forces. Monitors who toured the town found it was largely deserted, with
buildings torched and the stench of dead bodies still in the air.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch is reporting Syrian government forces have
used extensive sexual violence to torture men, women and boys detained
during the uprising. The group reports soldiers and pro-government
militias have sexually abused women and girls as young as 12 while
sweeping through residential areas and raiding homes.

 

.