Tomorrow, 25 April 2017, a hearing on genocide perpetrated by ISIS against religious minorities will take place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The event, a joint hearing of the Assembly’s Political Affairs and Legal Affairs Committees, will hear from Nadia Murad, a Yazidi survivor of ISIS’ crimes and winner of the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (by video-link) will give a testimony of the atrocities suffered at the hands of ISIS. Ms Murad will be followed by Geoffrey Robertson QC, former president of the Sierra Leone tribunal. Mr Robertson QC will propose an ad hoc tribunal in the EU for EU citizens participating in this genocide. The hearing will be live streamed.

The hearing is initiated by Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD) who will present a report on bringing ISIS to justice during the current session of the PACE. “Just as Nazi war criminals are still being prosecuted for their heinous crimes today, so justice should never rest until the criminals of ISIS are brought to account and punished for their crimes,” said Pieter Omtzigt.

Program:

Tuesday 25 April 2017 from 9-10am (Room 1)

Prosecuting and punishing the crimes against humanity or even possible genocide committed by Daesh

Rapporteur: Mr Pieter Omtzigt, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Consideration of an introductory memorandum

Joint hearing with the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy (open to the public) with the participation of:

Ms Nadia Murad, Yazidi survivor of ISIS, winner of the 2016 PACE Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize (via video link)

Ms Ewelina Ochab, legal researcher, PhD scholar, University of Kent, United Kingdom

Mr Geoffrey Robertson QC, author of “Crimes Against Humanity; The struggle for global justice” (Penguin, New Press), Former President of the UN War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, Founder and co-head of Doughty Street Chambers, London

Livestream will be available here.