{"id":171383,"date":"2021-06-02T15:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T15:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/icc-send-haroun-to-face-darfur-war-crimes-charges-in-the-hague\/"},"modified":"2024-01-31T10:45:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T09:45:29","slug":"icc-send-haroun-to-face-darfur-war-crimes-charges-in-the-hague","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/icc-send-haroun-to-face-darfur-war-crimes-charges-in-the-hague","title":{"rendered":"ICC Prosecutor: Send Harun to face Darfur war crimes charges in The Hague"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, has stressed the necessity of handing over Ahmed Harun, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, to the ICC before the end of July so that he can be tried along with Ali Kushayb. At a press conference at Sudan\u2019s Ministry of Justice in Khartoum today, Bensouda, who is on a three-day visit it to Sudan and Darfur Bensouda, revealed that a team of investigators from the ICC will arrive in Sudan in the coming period to collect more evidence on the ground.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bensouda\u00a0explained that she felt the\u00a0eagerness of victims to see justice served, during\u00a0her second visit to Sudan and her first opportunity to visit the victims in North, South, and West Darfur,<\/p>\n

\u2018The best evidence that can be collected is that which is collected on the ground\u2019 \u2013 ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bensouda asked the victims to communicate and cooperate with the investigators who will arrive in Sudan during the coming period: \u201cThe best evidence that can be collected is that which is collected on the ground,\u201d stressing that witnesses who testify before the court will be protected.<\/p>\n

She said that throughout her visit to the victims in Darfur, she felt that their main demand was that those wanted by the ICC be handed over to the court, and that this matter represented one of the tasks for which she arrived in Sudan.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Ahmed Harun, former chairman of deposed president
\nOmar Al Bashir\u2019s ruling National Congress Party
\nand one of the five Sudanese officials wanted by
\nthe international criminal court (ICC)
\nfor war crimes and crimes against humanity (File photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

She explained that she met with state officials and asked them to hand over the wanted persons to the court, and she did not see any objection to the extradition. The ICC Official justified the start of extraditing Ahmed Haroun as a matter of priority, \u201cbecause Ahmed Harun stands accused of the same charges facing Ali Kushayb.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ICC issued arrest warrants against former Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmed Harun, and Kushayb in 2007. Kushayb was transferred to the ICC\u2019s custody on June 9, 2020<\/a> after surrendering himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic. Upon his arrest, the Sudanese government announced its support<\/a> for his transfer to the ICC. Kushayb is also charged with a number of crimes by the Sudanese authorities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This will be Bensouda\u2019s final visit to Sudan in her capacity as ICC Prosecutor, as her nine-year term expires on June 16. She will be replaced by British lawyer Karim Ahmed Khan. Khan was elected as the new Chief Prosecutor of the ICC in February and is set to succeed Bensouda for the next nine-year term.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Ali Kushayb faces the ICC in The Hague last week (Picture: ICC)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Confirmation of charges<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kushayb appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands last week, in a hearing to confirm charges on 31 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. After three days of submissions from the prosecution<\/a> and legal representation of the victims<\/a>, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC), composed of Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala (Presiding judge), Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, and Judge Tomoko Akane, have adjourned for their deliberations.<\/p>\n

Kushayb to remain in custody<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, the ICC Appeals Chamber. with Judge Piotr Hofma\u0144ski presiding. upheld judgement on the appeal by Kushayb against the against Pre-Trial Chamber II\u2019s \u2018Decision on the Review of Detention\u2019 of 12 April 2021, ruling that Kushayb will remain in ICC custody. In October 2020, the Pre-Trial Chamber II officially rejected Kushayb\u2019s request<\/a> for interim release to the court\u2019s host state, the Netherlands, pending trial.<\/p>\n

\n
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Scheveningen prison in The Hague where Ali Kushayb is being held (Picture: Andrew Bergman \/ RD)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n