After
failing to investigate Abu-Ghraib and Gittmo torture scandals in the United States, a New York based group of lawyers, the Center for Constitutional Rights,
are filing
a case (for the second time) with Germany’s top prosecutor to charge
Rumsfeld and other top US officials for alleged
involvement in war crimes. The group took advantage of Rumsfeld’s resignation
and the subsequent loss of immunity granted to top officials and immediately
started the process.
The funny thing is that while Arabs are doing what they do
best- whining- Germany,a
Western evil country, is using its legal system, which allows for universal jurisdiction, to
help bring justice to torture victims. Despite the Bush’s administration efforts
to undermine the International Criminal Court and established international
humanitarian laws, some law principles of individual countries can be utilized
to criminalize those who are involved in crimes against humanity (The US has
that too). And, as we see in this case, it is happening. I am not sure where
this will go and if something substantial is going to come out of it, but at
least this is a proactive and symbolic move by concerned individuals who want
to remind the world that justice can be pursued anywhere. Now, angry Arabs and
Muslims, what have you done so far?
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