Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Rights activists urge Libya to hand over Qadhafi
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 31 - 08 - 2011

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - As Libyan rebels claim to be closing in on Muammar Qadhafi, human rights activists are urging them to turn the Libyan dictator over to the International Criminal Court for trial and not mete out justice themselves.
Leading the calls is the court's Argentine prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who has charged Qadhafi along with his son Saif al-Islam and the regime's intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi with unleashing a campaign of murder and torture since February that aimed to wipe out anti-government protests.
"The law says there's an arrest warrant pending and according to a Security Council resolution Libya has the obligation to cooperate with the court," Moreno-Ocampo told reporters at the court.
Rebels have sent mixed signals about what they will do with Qadhafi if they catch him, saying they will cooperate with the ICC but holding open the prospect of trying him in a Libyan court.
Many people in Libya want to see Qadhafi and the members of his family and regime prosecuted at home for abuses throughout his 42-year rule rather than being sent to the Hague to face justice for crimes committed only in the last six months as he fought desperately to cling to power.
Human Rights Watch on Wednesday also urged top diplomats meeting Libyan rebels in Paris on Thursday to push for Qadhafi's surrender to The Hague-based international court if he is captured.
Amnesty International echoed the call, saying Libya's rebel National Transitional Council is not yet in a position to put Qadhafi on trial as it seeks to restore order to the North African nation ravaged by civil war.
David Nichols, a senior analyst for Amnesty in Brussels, said rebels must hand over Qadhafi "for the sheer reason that the interim government in Libya will not have the capacity, will not have the experience...to try these people fairly and in full compliance with international law."
Meanwhile, Ali Tarhouni, deputy head of the National Transitional Council, said rebels were homing in on the fugitive dictator.
"Qadhafi is now fleeing - and we have a good idea where he is," Tarhouni said Tuesday, without elaborating. "We don't have any doubt that we will catch him."
Like all international tribunals, the court has no police force of its own to arrest suspects. Moreno-Ocampo says whoever finds the three suspects he has indicted is bound by international law to send them to The Hague.
If rebels still want to prosecute the suspects, they will have to convince judges at the court that they are investigating them and can stage a fair trial.
Under the ICC's founding statute, it can only take on cases where a country is unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects.
"To date, I don't know of any other arrest warrants against Qadhafi, so if they arrest Qadhafi, legally the only thing they can do is send him to The Hague," Moreno-Ocampo said. "If they have a different case in Libya they have to submit this issue to judges and judges will decide."
Nichols said the international community should use Thursday's meeting in Paris with Libyan rebel leaders to press for the indicted suspects to be turned over.
"There has not been enough strong EU pressure on the (rebels) to make sure that all those who have been indicted by the ICC are actually transferred to The Hague," he said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.