Probe into alleged crimes in Afghanistan begins at International Criminal Court at The Hague

Published December 4, 2019
In April, judges rejected a request to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by the Taliban, Afghan security forces and American military and intelligence agencies. – AP
In April, judges rejected a request to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by the Taliban, Afghan security forces and American military and intelligence agencies. – AP

The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a three-day hearing on Wednesday at which prosecutors and victims aim to overturn a decision scrapping a proposed investigation into alleged crimes in Afghanistan's brutal conflict.

Fergal Gaynor, a lawyer representing 82 Afghani victims, called it a historic day for accountability in Afghanistan.

In April, judges rejected a request by the court's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by the Taliban, Afghan security forces and American military and intelligence agencies.

In the ruling, which was condemned by victims and rights groups, the judges said that an investigation “would not serve the interests of justice” because it would likely fail due to lack of cooperation.

The decision came a month after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo banned visas for ICC staff seeking to investigate allegations of war crimes and other abuses by US forces in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's request to open an investigation said there is information that members of the US military and intelligence agencies “committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period.”

She also said that the Taliban and other insurgent groups have killed more than 17,000 civilians since 2009, including some 7,000 targeted killings.

She alleged that Afghan security forces have tortured prisoners at government detention centres.

Even as they rejected the request for an investigation, judges in April acknowledged that Bensouda's November 2017 request to open a probe established a reasonable basis to consider that crimes within the ICC jurisdiction have been committed in Afghanistan and that potential cases would be admissible before the court.

Wednesday's hearing was focused on whether victims have a right under the court's Rome Statute founding document to take part in the appeal.

Gaynor told the five-judge panel that it is vital victims' views are taken into account in the appeal.

“We are here to challenge a decision that has extinguished all of their rights under the statute and has caused enormous damage to any hopes they have for justice and accountability,” Gaynor told judges.

He said it is critically important that victims can appeal a decision that represents “a clear and extreme danger to their rights.

With other states unwilling or unable to investigate the Afghanistan crimes, “the only jurisdiction in the world [...] that can offer the victims a prompt and impartial investigation into the brutal crimes committed against them is this court,” Gaynor told judges.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.