The Judiciary Announces The Launch Of A Joint Int'l Working Group To Hold The ISIS Accountable
Baghdad / NINA /- The Supreme Judicial Council announced the launch of a joint international working group to hold the terrorist organization accountable.
A statement by the Supreme Judicial Council stated: "The United Nations International Investigation Team for the crimes of ISIS gangs (UNITAD) appreciated the role of the Supreme Judicial Council and the efforts of its President, Judge Faiq Zaidan, in ensuring accountability and justice for the international crimes committed by the terrorist organization, praised the efforts of the Iraqi judiciary to find an appropriate legal framework that allows dealing with the atrocities of the organization as international crimes in Iraq, in order to prosecute the perpetrators before the competent courts.
It added: "The head of the Judicial Oversight Authority, Judge Laith Jabr Hamza, representing the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, chaired the joint meeting with the UN investigation team, along with legal experts from the Prime Minister's Office and the Permanent National Committee on International Humanitarian Law, as well as officials in the Iraqi State Council, where the meeting discussed how to work towards bringing charges of international crimes to the perpetrators of crimes from ISIS in Iraq.
The media center of the Supreme Judicial Council quoted Judge Hamza as saying during the meeting held at the Judicial Development Institute in Baghdad, "The Supreme Judicial Council, in its capacity as the judicial institution that undertakes investigations and trials in cooperation with all relevant local authorities in Iraq, has full appreciation and respect and praise for the distinguished and prominent role played by the investigation team (UNITAD)”, expressing his gratitude to the team for its efforts to seek justice for the victims of crimes committed by ISIS.
In his opening remarks, the Special Adviser and Head of the Investigative Team (UNITAD), Christian Richer, stressed the importance of this meeting, saying: “It would bring us closer to seeing our common endeavor, which is to ensure accountability and justice for the international crimes committed by ISIS, achieved in Iraq.
The advisor added that the goal of the meeting is "to find out the best ways to support the Iraqi-led process in order to find an appropriate legal framework that allows dealing with the atrocities of ISIS as international crimes in Iraq, with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators before the competent courts."
The advisor confirmed that the investigation team (UNITAD) remains ready to provide technical support, including capacity building and the use of international expertise. He expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Judicial Council and its president, Judge Faiq Zaidan, for his continuous support. / End
