Written question asked by Lord Ahmed (Non-affiliated) on Monday, 14 March 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 March 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 March 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Islamic State

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that chemical weapons are being used against the Turkmen community in the Kirkuk region of Iraq by ISIS.

Answer: There are credible reports that Daesh have used chemical weapons in Iraq. We cannot confirm these reports with certainty, but we would condemn any such attack unreservedly. We are continuing to monitor these allegations very closely. Such behaviour would be consistent with Daesh’s record of complete disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law. The Government of Iraq is investigating allegations of chemical weapon use in Iraq by non-state actors with support from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Secondary information