ICJ: Broader mandate for prosecutor essential to achieve accountability over U.S. torture and other “war on terror” crimes
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today welcomed the decision of United States Attorney General Eric Holder to mandate Assistant US Attorney John Durham to “conduct a preliminary review into whether [US] laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of specific detainees at overseas locations.” The Attorney General’s initiative marks a first step towards full disclosure of and accountability for unlawful US practices concerning the treatment of detainees secretly held by the CIA as part of the Bush administration’s counter-terrorism strategy. Those practices included serious human rights violations amounting to crimes under international law. The ICJ nonetheless is deeply concerned by the statement of the Attorney General that “the Department of Justice will not prosecute anyone who acted in good faith and within the scope of the legal guidance given by the Office of Legal Counsel regarding the interrogation of detainees.” Read more
International Commission of Jurists: Syrian Authorities Must Immediately Release ICJ Commissioner Muhannad Al-Hasani
The International Commission of Jurists has urged the Syrian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Muhannad Al-Hasani, an ICJ Commissioner in Syria. Mr. Al-Hasani was arrested on 28 July 2009 and charged with the offenses of “weakening national sentiments,” and “spreading false news.” The unlawful and arbitrary detention follows a campaign of harassment against the Commissioner for his work as a lawyer and human rights defender in Syria, including his monitoring of trials before the State Security Court. Read more
