MONITORING (SW) – The International Criminal Court has approved investigations to examine alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity by Taliban, US soldiers and Afghan troops.
The chamber delivered its judgment in the Prosecutor’s appeal against Pre-Trial Chamber II’s decision which had rejected in April last year the request to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the war-ravaged country.
Judge Piotr Hofmański, the presiding judge in this appeal, read a summary of the Appeals Chamber's judgment in open court.
Having considered the Prosecutor's grounds of appeal against the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision, as well as the observations and submissions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, representatives of victims and other participants, the Appeals Chamber found that the Pre-Trial Chamber erred in considering the 'interests of justice factor' when examining the Prosecutor's request for authorisation to open an investigation.
In November 2017, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested to open an investigation and January 2018, victims were invited to make direct representations to the ICC, or to answer a questionnaire. However, the Pre-Trial Chamber rejected the request to open an investigation.
ENDS
