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Khabar Agency
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Khabar Agency
Report: Over 2,700 Cases of Torture, Death in Houthi Prisons Since 2014
The Yemeni National Commission for Prisoners and Detainees has documented more than 2,700 cases of torture and death in Houthi militia prisons since the group's 2014 coup, stating that these violations constitute crimes against humanity under international law. In a statement marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Commission reported 2,388 documented cases of torture and 324 deaths. Among the victims were 275 women and 67 children, while the fatalities included 12 children and 2 women—highlighting the militia's systematic targeting of vulnerable groups. The Commission disclosed that the Houthi militia runs an extensive network of 778 prisons and detention centers across 17 Yemeni governorates, including official, secret, and private facilities where detainees endure brutal physical and psychological torture. Documented torture methods include severe beatings, burning, electrocution, suspension by limbs, prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and sexual and verbal abuse—practices that flagrantly violate international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute. Expressing deep concern over escalating abuses, the Commission urged immediate international action, including the formation of an independent investigative committee to hold perpetrators accountable. It demanded the unconditional release of all forcibly disappeared detainees and the closure of secret prisons, while calling for unfettered access for human rights organizations to detention sites. The Commission warned that global inaction not only fails torture victims but also emboldens the Iran-backed Houthi militia to continue its atrocities. It called on the international community to use this occasion to pressure the militia to end its torture practices and deliver justice for victims.
DW
a day ago
- Politics
- DW
The case against Putin: Can tribunals bring justice? – DW – 06/27/2025
A new special tribunal is to prosecute leading Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, for the war of aggression against Ukraine. Legal action is already underway in other courts. More than three years after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, international criminal prosecution is gaining momentum. On Wednesday, the Council of Europe and the Ukrainian government signed an agreement in Strasbourg to establish a special tribunal dedicated to the "crime of aggression" which refers to a largely unpunished violation of international law. The aim is to hold high-ranking representatives of the Russian leadership, possibly including President Vladimir Putin himself, criminally responsible for the decision to wage war against Ukraine. "Strong political cooperation is needed to ensure that every Russian war criminal is brought to justice, including Putin," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the signing ceremony in inch of Russia's war has been documented, stated Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on X. "There is no room for doubt — and no room for impunity," she wrote. The special tribunal is legally bound by international customary law and resolutions of the UN General Assembly. It will most likely be based in The Hague and close a gap that the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is also based there, has not yet been able to address: The punishment of the decision to wage aggressive war itself, not just the crimes committed during the war. However, as Russia never ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC, its politicians cannot be directly prosecuted by it at this point. Still, the new tribunal is just one of numerous attempts to legally prosecute Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine. In March 2023, the ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for the alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. The government in Kyiv documented almost 20,000 minors who were deported from Ukraine to Russia in the course of the war. However, human rights organizations assume that the number of unreported cases is far higher. In 2024, further arrest warrants were issued for then Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia's General Staff chief, General Valery Gerasimov including for targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. In 2022, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Unlike the ICC, which is directed against individuals who have committed serious crimes, the ICJ deals exclusively with legal disputes between states, for example over borders or treaty violations. The ICJ is also based in The Hague, but unlike the Criminal Court, it is an organ of the United Nations. In the specific case, Russia justified its attack on Ukraine in 2022 with an alleged "genocide of Russians" in the Donbas. Ukraine has firmly rejected this accusation. It sees this as a Russian abuse of the international genocide convention and filed a lawsuit. In March 2023, the ICJ confirmed its jurisdiction and the main proceedings are ongoing. However, another lawsuit filed by Kyiv in 2017 against Russia for alleged terrorist financing was largely dismissed by the ICJ in 2024. Several cases are currently pending against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). One case is in connection with the downing of the MH17 passenger plane over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Another case refers to the ongoing repression in Crimea since its annexation in the same year. The ECtHR is an organ of the Council of Europe. In September 2022, Russia avoided the threat of expulsion and left the organization. As a result, new complaints against Russia can no longer be submitted to the ECtHR. Previously submitted complaints are still being heard, however, and judgments in these cases remain legally valid, at least in theory. However, Russia has repeatedly disregarded ECtHR judgments in the past. In addition, national authorities, for example in Germany, France, Spain and Lithuania, are investigating Russian actors for possible war crimes on the basis of the principle of universal jurisdiction. The principle of universal jurisdiction is a principle of international law that allows states to prosecute particularly serious crimes even if the perpetrator, victim or crime scene are not located in their own country. The newly established special tribunal is set to begin its work in the coming months. First, judges and prosecutors must be appointed. However, it is extremely unlikely that it will ever be able to bring defendants such as Vladimir Putin to justice in person. On the one hand, a trial against Putin would only be possible after the end of his presidency, as sitting heads of state and members of government enjoy immunity. On the other hand, Russia does not recognize international courts and extradition is considered impossible. The proceedings there will therefore in all likelihood only be able to take place in the absence of the accused. According to the Council of Europe, the tribunal is nevertheless important, for example to gather evidence and prepare charges, and as a blueprint for the legal prosecution of possible future acts of aggression in violation of international law, whether by Russia or other view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Australia turns down hosting Duterte if ICC grants interim release
The Australian government has declined to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should the International Criminal Court (ICC) grant his request for interim release. While it is aware that Duterte applied for interim release to a third unnamed country, Australia is not considering to grant such a request as the matter is best left in the hands of the ICC, GMA News Online learned Friday. In applying for interim release, Duterte's camp previously told the chamber that an undisclosed country has agreed to take in the former president, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his administration's war on drugs. Earlier this week, Vice President Sara Duterte said the former president, her father, is looking at Australia as one of the countries for his possible interim release. Australia is a party to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. Duterte is currently under ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Office of the Prosecutor has asked the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to deny Duterte's interim release request. The prosecution also denied that any agreement was reached with the defense regarding Duterte's release to the country proposed by the Duterte camp. Further, the prosecution said it agreed under the condition that Duterte would be released to another country. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH gov't not directly cooperating with ICC on drug war witnesses — Palace
Malacañang on Friday clarified that the government is not directly cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) despite the recent pronouncement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla that the tribunal had requested the government to provide protection for witnesses. In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the government would help witnesses. "Parang sa ating pagkakadinig ay tutulungan ng DOJ (Department of Justice) ang mga witnesses para makapag-testify, para mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat mabigyan ng hustisya. Hindi directly makikipagtulungan sa ICC," Castro said. (From what we hear, the DOJ will help the witnesses to testify so that justice will be attained by those who seek it. Not directly cooperate with the ICC.) "Still, ang tutulungan po natin ay kapwa Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong para mabigyan sila ng hustisya. 'Yan din naman po ang sinasabi ng Commission on Human Rights," she added. (Still, assistance will be given to our fellow Filipinos who need help so they may achieve justice. This is aligned with the statements of the Commission on Human Rights.) Pressed if this matter has the go signal of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Castro said, "'Yun po ay, 'yan din naman po ang gusto ng Pangulo, mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat mabigyan ng hustisya." (That's also what the President wants, that justice be provided to those who deserve it.) Remulla earlier said three to four witnesses in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the ICC are currently under government protection. According to Remulla, more individuals may be placed under witness protection. Remulla also said cooperating with the tribunal does not contradict with the government's position that the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in March 2019 during the Duterte administration. Castro recently said the President was open to having discussions with regard to the Philippines rejoining the ICC. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Putin to skip BRICS summit in Brazil over ICC arrest warrant
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed on Wednesday, citing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. 'This is related to certain difficulties in the context of the ICC's demands,' Ushakov said, according to Reuters. 'In that context, the Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in this meeting.' The summit, scheduled for July 6–7 in Rio de Janeiro, will see Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov represent Russia in person. Putin is expected to join the proceedings via video link. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of illegally deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children following Russia's 2022 invasion. While the Kremlin has dismissed the allegations and called the warrant null and void, the legal risks remain for Putin when visiting ICC member states like Brazil. As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Brazil is obliged to detain any individual wanted by the ICC who enters its territory. This is not the first time Putin has opted out of international summits due to the ICC warrant. He skipped the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa under similar circumstances and sent Lavrov instead. He also missed the G20 summit in Brazil in November 2024, reported The Kyiv Independent. In a rare exception, Putin visited Mongolia in September 2024 — despite its ICC membership. Media reports suggest Chinese President Xi Jinping may also skip the BRICS summit this year. (With inputs from Reuters, The Kyiv Independent, The Moscow Times)
