Monthly News Updates: Domestic Prosecution of International Crimes - April 2021
By: Alexandrah Bakker, Research Associate, PILPG-NL
The following post highlights developments from around the world in the domestic prosecution of international crimes. This month saw developments at all stages of criminal proceedings, including the filing of criminal complaints, arrests of high-profile suspects, and long-awaited convictions.
EUROPE
Serbia | Trial opens in the case of former Kosovo Liberation Army member accused of war crimes
Proceedings began at the Belgrade Higher Court in the case against Nezir Mehmetaj, a former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter. Prosecutors accuse Mehmetaj of participating in war crimes against civilians in June and July 1999. Prosecutors allege that Mehmetaj killed seven people and participated in the looting and burning of houses. [April 22, 2021]
The Netherlands | District Court of The Hague convicts Syrian man of war crimes
The District Court of The Hague sentenced a Syrian asylum-seeker to six years’ imprisonment following his conviction of membership of the terrorist organization Ahrar al-Sham and of the war crime of outrage upon personal dignity. The war crime charge relates to a video the defendant filmed of himself and others spitting on and kicking enemy bodies. [April 21, 2021]
Germany | Düsseldorf State Court convicts German woman of war crimes and crimes against humanity
The Düsseldorf State Court convicted a German woman of participating in a foreign terrorist organization, neglecting her duties of care toward a minor, war crimes, weapons offenses, and being an accessory to a crime against humanity. The woman traveled to Syria in 2015 to join the Islamic State, lived in apartments seized by the Islamic State, and used an enslaved Yazidi woman to clean her home and take care of her daughter. [April 21, 2021]
Sweden | NGOs file a criminal complaint against members of the Syrian government over chemical weapons attacks
Four NGOs filed a criminal complaint with Swedish police against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other members of the Syrian government. The complaint alleges that the individuals committed attacks using chemical weapons in 2013 and 2017, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. [April 19, 2021]
Germany | NGOs file a criminal complaint against Chechen officials for crimes against humanity against the LGBTQ population
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and the Russian LGBT Network filed a criminal complaint in Germany against five Chechen officials. The complaint accuses the officials of persecution, unlawful arrests, torture, incitement to murder, and sexual violence, against members of Chechnya’s LGBTQ population. [April 18, 2021]
France | French authorities arrest Rwandan priest over the role in 1994 genocide
French authorities arrested Marcel Hitayezu, a Rwandan priest, over his alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Prosecutors charged Hitayezu with genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity for providing food to members of the Interahamwe, a paramilitary organization that played a large role in the genocide. [April 16, 2021]
AFRICA
Senegal | Senegalese court refuses Hissène Habré’s request for temporary leave from prison
The Dakar High Court refused Hissène Habré’s request for a 6-month leave from prison. Habré, the former president of Chad, is serving a life sentence in Senegal following his conviction for crimes against humanity by the Extraordinary African Chambers in 2016. Habré had requested temporary leave due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [April 19, 2021]
Rwanda | Rwanda Bureau of Investigation arrests woman deported from the United States over the role in 1994 genocide
The Rwanda Bureau of Investigation arrested Beatrice Munyenyezi, who had just arrived in Rwanda following her deportation from the United States for lying on her naturalization application. Munyenyezi faces charges of murder and complicity in rape as a result of her position in charge of a roadblock during the genocide. [April 17, 2021]