ICC prosecutor calls for global support to bring Libyan war criminals to justice
The remaining six were all key members of or linked to the Al Kaniyat militia that controlled Tarhuna from at least 2015 until June 2020, when government forces expelled them from the city, located a few miles north. southeast about 65 km (about 40 miles) of Tripoli.
the arrest warrant against Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi “Al Khani“, Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah “Douma“, Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou”Al Lahsa“, Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Salmi”Salheen“, Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi “Al Shaqaqi” and Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal “Al Zinkal” used to unsealed last month.
As of June 2020, Hundreds of bodies were exhumed from mass graves in and around Tarhuna, are believed to have been victims of war crimes, including murder, torture, sexual violence and rape.
High determination and resoluteness
Introduce yourself to the ambassadors Security Council from the Libyan capital Tripoli, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan spoke about his meetings and interactions with the families of the victims.
“Today, someone said something very simple and very true, that every house in Tarhuna has a victim.. Everyone who details the loss suffered the end of their universe, and the heartbreak is palpable and heartfelt,” he said.
He also conveyed their “iron determination.”
“They have clear beliefs – justice, accountability and fair processes are essential for themselves, their families, their communities and for Libya as a whole,” he added.
He called for the support of the Security Council, states parties to the ICC’s Rome Statute and other non-state members to ensure that the suspects are apprehended and brought to justice in an independent trial. , freedom and justice.
New paradigm shift
Mr. Khan also emphasized that the “new paradigm shift” shows that progress is possible, discernible and definable.
He noted significant progress in investigations related to crimes at detention facilities and crimes committed between 2014 and 2020, adding that more were expected. application for an arrest warrant in the coming months.
He said some applications may be kept secret to take the chance of arrest.
Mr. Khan also emphasized the need for continued cooperation with Libyan authorities to achieve these goals, citing positive outcomes from his meetings with Libyan officials, including the Ministry Attorney General and the establishment of a new mechanism to coordinate investigations and prosecutions.
The ICC team has also increased cooperation with civil society organizations, noting that his team met with more than 70 civil society groups and human rights defenders in Libya and discussed their expectations. Surname.
“[They] not an appendage [but] is at the heart of our discussions,” Mr Khan said.
Karim Khan (on screen), Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), summarizes the Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya.
The plans are working
In conclusion, he recalls Roadmap for completing the investigation phase of the trial process.
“I believe that, through these combined activities, these plans are working,” he said, stressing that “the hopes, expectations and iron determination of the victims need to be placed in to the top”.
Although many challenges remain and the next steps will not be simple, he expressed his belief that there is still space to develop solutions to the problem that has plagued Libya for more than 13 years.
Introduction by the Security Council
Although not a United Nations organization, the ICC is cooperation agreement with the United Nations. When a situation does not fall within the Court’s jurisdiction, the Security Council can refer the situation to the ICC to grant it jurisdiction.
The situation in Libya has been is introduced to the ICC Prosecutor of the Security Council in resolution 1970, passed in February 2011. In March, the Prosecutor announced his decision to open an investigation.
In that resolution, the Council also imposed targeted sanctionsincludes a travel ban on President Muammar Al-Qadhafi and other senior figures in his administration, including some family members.
