Press releases

Press Release ACIJLP Demands: Withdrawal from Bilateral Accords Anti- ICC Positive Step against US Crimes in Iraq

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) Voices that crimes are being committed by American occupation forces of Iraq, against Iraqi citizens and prisoners of war, constitute elements of crimes against humanity and war crimes in accordance with Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

ACIJLP points out that these crimes are being committed widely and systematically by American soldiers around many places in the world such as Aphganistan and Iraq. Accordingly, these crimes are the main cause of attack by American Administration against International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as US consequent insistence in undermining ICC’s role.

The center condemns bilateral judicial agreements that signed between US Administration and most of world states. These agreements are done by America in order to avoid and demolish the Rome Statute of ICC for the purpose of protection its soldiers involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity beyond United States borders.

ACIJLP expresses its extreme astonishment of many world states’ concern about committing US occupation’s crimes against Iraqis simultaneously with US bilateral agreements with these states on judicial cooperation to provide protection for those crimes perpetrators. It is worth mentioning, that some Arab countries signed such US pacts, for example Bahrain, Tunisia, Djibouti, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco and Kuwait.

The Center considers proceeding of applying US agreements regarding not hand over American soldiers involved in crimes under jurisdiction of ICC, makes signed countries as an active partner of crimes against humanity and war crimes against Iraqi people.

ACIJLP calls upon sates that signed these accords to accelerate, if it has a real objection against crimes committing against Iraqi people and prisoners of war, eliminating pacts that support impunity and legal coverage for most cruel crimes against humanity. Moreover, US accords protect crimes perpetrators from prosecution before ICC and fair trial.

Furthermore, the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJL) appeals upon these sates to ratify on the Rome Statute of Permanent International Criminal Court as it is an effective means and practical procedure, instead of theoretical condemn and denouncement, to constrain crimes are being committed by US forces against Iraqi people. Therefore, this will be the preliminary step to try perpetrators of the most dangerous crimes as well as to implant international criminal justice.

Press Release Detention of Aktham Naisse Product of Political Reform In Syria

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its profound concern and displeasure regarding crisis of justice status in Syria which, pictured as an aggressive attack against human rights activists and legal profession. This assault notifies collapse of justice status in the case if it will go on as happening for legal profession in Syria now.

ACIJLP indicates that attack on independence of legal profession in Syria can be represented by infringing of Syrian authorities for basic principles of the United Nations on role of lawyers particularly, articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 23.

Syrian authorities unprecedentedly arrested, by military security services in Latikia city, Mr. Aktham Naisse, lawyer and President of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), on Wednesday 14 April 2004.Conditions point out that reasons of detention are relating to Aktham’s practicing of his rights to freedom of opinion and expression and his call upon Syrian authority to achieve political and democratic reform. As well as, for the reason of Naisse’s role in monitoring human rights violations in Syria particularly, he has not been charged yet and has not the chance to be heard by judiciary. 

ACIJLP expresses its extreme concern also concerning rejection of Syrian Security Authorities to present any information relating to arrest place of Mr. Aktham Naisse. Accordingly, he will not be able to have an access to legal assistance that might be unsafe for his life. ACIJLP burdens Syrain authority the responsibility to the lawyer Aktham’s body safe. The center announces its complete solidarity with Syrian lawyer, Aktham Naisse. It also demands immediate release of Aktham and not for tracing human rights activists. Furthermore, ACIJLP appeals upon related international and regional institutions to address UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to intervene immediately for the purpose of eliminating exposure of principle of independence of legal profession in Syria to violations.

ACIJLP Demands: Referral of War Crimes Against Iraqi People  By Security Council to ICC

American occupying forces of Iraqi people and territory proceed violation of rules of the international law and instruments related to human rights. These actins form elements of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Iraqi citizens. Although reaction of international governmental and non-governmental organizations it is not strong enough to criminate practices against rights of Iraqi people.

Moreover, these exaggerated intentional attacks against residential sections of citizens, bombing worship buildings and using banned weapons internationally against unarmed hundred civil victims are considered as elements of war crime as well as breaching of Geneva agreement. Besides to this, the American practices constitute elements of crimes against humanity as stipulated in article seven of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In view of these incidents, world states in the framework of the United Nations should be review their human conscience and international responsibility.

In this context, the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) appeals upon Franc, member of Security council and state party of the ICC, to introduce draft resolution to Security Council for purpose of referral of war crimes against Iraqi citizens to the International Criminal Court in accordance with article 13 paragraph (2) of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court.

Furthermore, ACIJLP callas upon Algeria, Arab member of Security Council, to issue a resolution that condemns exposure of Iraqi civil victims to criminal actions and to refer criminals and perpetrators to the International Criminal Court.    

Press Release Detention of Aktham Naisse Product of Political Reform In Syria

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its profound concern and displeasure regarding crisis of justice status in Syria which, pictured as an aggressive attack against human rights activists and legal profession. This assault notifies collapse of justice status in the case if it will go on as happening for legal profession in Syria now.

ACIJLP indicates that attack on independence of legal profession in Syria can be represented by infringing of Syrian authorities for basic principles of the United Nations on role of lawyers particularly, articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 23.

Syrian authorities unprecedentedly arrested, by military security services in Latikia city, Mr. Aktham Naisse, lawyer and President of the Committees for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), on Wednesday 14 April 2004.Conditions point out that reasons of detention are relating to Aktham’s practicing of his rights to freedom of opinion and expression and his call upon Syrian authority to achieve political and democratic reform. As well as, for the reason of Naisse’s role in monitoring human rights violations in Syria particularly, he has not been charged yet and has not the chance to be heard by judiciary. 

ACIJLP expresses its extreme concern also concerning rejection of Syrian Security Authorities to present any information relating to arrest place of Mr. Aktham Naisse. Accordingly, he will not be able to have an access to legal assistance that might be unsafe for his life. ACIJLP burdens Syrain authority the responsibility to the lawyer Aktham’s body safe. The center announces its complete solidarity with Syrian lawyer, Aktham Naisse. It also demands immediate release of Aktham and not for tracing human rights activists. Furthermore, ACIJLP appeals upon related international and regional institutions to address UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to intervene immediately for the purpose of eliminating exposure of principle of independence of legal profession in Syria to violations .

Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary Law Firm