Human Rights Watch criticizes Syrian opposition

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Human Rights Watch, one of the world's largest human rights groups, on Monday issued an open letter to the Syrian opposition criticizing what it called "widespread violations" of human rights by rebels fighting against the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

In particular, the group said Syrians were targeted by opposition members based on their sectarian background. "Shias and Alawites," it said, may have been deliberately attacked.

More from GlobalPost: Russia, Red Cross call for daily temporary ceasefire in Syria

HRW noted that "the protest movement in Syria was overwhelmingly peaceful until September 2011," but that the back-and-forth violence between rebels and government forces brought about rights abuses. It lists "the kidnapping and detention of security force members, individuals identified as members of government-supported militias (referred to locally as shabeeha), and individuals identified as government allies or supporters."

The group also accused rebels of using torture and executing government security forces and civilians, particularly for sectarian reasons, though said the abuses appear to be outside of the chain of command of the Syrian National Council.

More from GlobalPost: Top India CEO warns of slowdown

"But," HRW said, "Syria’s opposition leadership has a responsibility to speak out and condemn such abuses."

Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East director at HRW, said in a press release, “The Syrian government’s brutal tactics cannot justify abuses by armed opposition groups."

“Opposition leaders should make it clear to their followers that they must not torture, kidnap, or execute under any circumstances," she said.