Sahr is CIVIC’s Director of MENA and South Asia. She has worked for over a decade in the fields of armed conflict, human rights, and counterterrorism in Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Syria. Prior to joining CIVIC, Sahr was a consultant with Human Rights Watch working on South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Counter-Terrorism Hangover or Legal Obligation? The Requirement to Protect Civilians In War

By Sahr Muhammedally Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, in a letter to the mayor and council of Atlanta before he besieged the town in 1864, wrote, “war is cruelty and you cannot refine it.” As a practitioner whose work focuses on the protection of civilians, I have witnessed indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and both governments and…

A Comprehensive Approach is Needed for the Protection of Civilians in Urban War

The following are remarks delivered by CIVIC’s MENA and South Asia Director, Sahr Muhammedally, during the 43rd Sanremo Round Table on “New Dimensions and Challenges of Urban Warfare” – hosted by the the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and the International Committee of the Red Cross. View full recordings of the event here. Modern conflicts…

MWI PODCAST: PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN URBAN COMBAT

In the third episode of MWI’s new Urban Warfare Project podcast, John Spencer is joined by Sahr Muhammedally. She works at the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), a nongovernmental organization that seeks to convince parties to armed conflicts to recognize the dignity and rights of civilians, prevent civilian harm, protect civilians caught in conflict, and amend harm. Sahr manages…

Military Policies and Practices on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has been identified as a key issue on the protection of civilians agenda by states and organizations over recent years. Operational policies and procedures provide guidance for armed forces including over the choice of weapons and how weapons can be used. Such policies and procedures to assess, reduce, and mitigate civilian harm…

Intercross the Podcast: Episode #31 ‘When War Comes to Cities’

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we are joined by Interaction‘s Director of Protection Jenny McAvoy and Center for Civilians in Conflict’s (CIVIC) Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, Sahr Muhammedally. Nearly 50 million civilians are affected by urban warfare, mostly in the countries of Yemen, Syria and Iraq. As warfare moves more and more…