Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1699):
Question from Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench):
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the authorities in Kurdistan lack sufficient resources to detain, investigate and prosecute suspected Daesh fighters; what assistance they will offer to address those issues; and what steps they will take to establish an international or regional tribunal to prosecute Daesh fighters. (HL1699)
Tabled on: 24 February 2020
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
The UK assesses that the effective prosecution of Daesh fighters in Iraq presents a significant challenge to Iraq’s judicial systems, including in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We are working directly with the judicial systems of the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRI) to build their capacity, as called upon by UN Security Council Resolution 2379 on Daesh Accountability. We have identified areas where we can share expertise and will continue to work closely with Iraq’s judiciary to ensure due process and compliance with international law.
Our Embassy in Baghdad has regular discussions with the Government of Iraq and the UN Investigative Team for the Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD), encouraging close co-operation between them to achieve justice for the victims of Daesh’s crimes. Through advanced witness protection and support UNITAD is expanding its engagement with witnesses and survivors. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are brought to justice in accordance with due legal process. The UK will continue to work closely with international partners in addressing the issues associated with foreign terrorist fighters and in the pursuit of justice of those who have participated in terrorism overseas.
Date and time of answer: 04 Mar 2020 at 13:29.
The Prosecution of Sudan’s Dictator – Omar Al Bashir
Baroness Sugg, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL1702):
Question: Lord Alton of Liverpool-
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Omar al-Bashir, and others in Sudan against whom warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court, will be handed over to stand trial; who else they expect will be subject to prosecution; and when they anticipate that those cases will be brought to trial. (HL1702)
Tabled on: 24 February 2020
Answer:
Baroness Sugg:
The UK welcomes the news that Sudan intends that Omar al-Bashir, and four others indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), will stand trial for crimes committed in Darfur. Accountability for Bashir and others is a significant step in Sudan’s progress towards the goals of the revolution and a peace settlement in Darfur. We welcome this signal of the commitment of Sudan’s transitional government to justice. The Sudanese authorities have not yet set out how they will cooperate with the ICC on arrest warrants, but have stated their intention for those indicted by the ICC to be tried for the crimes for which they have been charged. The modality of any trial, as well as the issuing of any further warrants of arrest or summons to appear, will also need to be agreed. The UK strongly supports the ICC, and the role it plays in holding perpetrators to account and achieving justice for victims.
Date and time of answer: 05 Mar 2020 at 12:24
