[International Crimes Database] New cases on terrorism, sexual violence, and cultural heritage

The International Crimes Database (ICD), a publicly accessible online resource maintained by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, has recently been updated. Seven new case summaries have been added, reflecting the latest developments in international criminal justice and the prosecution of international crimes. 

The International Crimes Database has recently been updated with seven new case summaries. Three of these case summaries concern terrorism-related crimes. The case of Ahmad al-Y before the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal of The Hague, the Netherlands, relates to conduct that took place within the Syrian civil war, while the Al Bahlul case, which took place before the U.S. District of Columbia Court of Appeals, concerns an appeal by a convicted former member of Al Qaeda.

Two important cases from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have also been added. The Bemba case was the first time that the ICC convicted a defendant under the doctrine of command responsibility and was one of the first ICC trials that focused on sexual violence as an international crime. The Al Mahdi case is also a milestone case as it focused on the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict and the defendant’s admission of guilt highlighted the potential for reconciliation and acknowledgment of wrongdoing in international criminal law.

The Eyad Al-Gharib case, before the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz, Germany, has also been added to the ICD. This judgment was the first court decision against a former agent of the Syrian government regarding the government-led crimes against humanity that took place from 2011 onwards. Finally, the Belfast case, heard before the U.S. Court of Appeals, details the appeal by the son of convicted war criminal Charles Taylor regarding his conviction under the U.S. Torture Act.

About the International Crimes Database
The International Crimes Database, which is managed by a team of editors and legal interns at the Asser Institute, contains over seven hundred case summaries of international crimes cases from international, hybrid and domestic courts. In addition, the website incorporates general background information about international crimes, academic and news articles, working papers (the ICD Briefs series) and relevant links to other useful databases and websites.

The ICD aims to be the starting point for any online search about international crimes. The range of information available is not just meant for scholars and practitioners (such as judges, prosecutors and defense counsel), but also for students, journalists, families and communities of victims of crimes, among others. We aim to include as many cases that have a link with international crimes as possible. In doing so, the database is not limited to the core international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression), but also offers case law on crimes such as piracy, terrorism and torture. 

Feedback and contributions?
We greatly appreciate feedback, suggestions and contributions. Please send your suggestions for new additions to the database, information regarding important cases from any jurisdiction, and particularly original court documents, articles and other contributions to the editors: editors@internationalcrimesdatabase.org.

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The FTF Knowledge Hub, developed by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), is an open-access, interactive database on states’ data and responses to ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ (FTFs), which could be defined as ‘individuals who travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts or the providing or receiving of terrorist training, including in connection with armed conflict’ (UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014)).

The FTF Knowledge Hub contains country-specific information on 32 different states, including FTF-related data, administrative and criminal measures, as well as rehabilitation and prevention policies. The database also provides key statistics about FTFs who have travelled to Syria or Iraq to join groups like ISIL. Students, policymakers, practitioners, academics, and journalists are likely to find the Knowledge Hub of interest. Read more.