Tag Archives: Bashar al-Assad

Laying the Blame: Justice in Syria Just Got a Bit More Likely

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Mark Kersten

Anyone would be excused for believing that things in Syria may get worse before they get better. Millions of civilians live in daily fear for their security. Those who manage to escape do so to a new kind of hell … Continue reading →

Posted in International Law, ISIS, Islamic State, Israel, Justice, Russia, Syria, UN Security Council | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Justice and Accountability in Syria: The Limited Options at Hand

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Mark Kersten

Shikha Dilawri and Mark Lattimer join JiC for this guest-post on the options available for achieving justice and accountability in Syria. Mark is the Director of the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights and co-editor of Justice for Crimes Against Humanity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Posts, ISIS, Justice, Syria, Transitional Justice | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

US Throws Support Behind Referral of Syria to the ICC

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Mark Kersten

In a bombshell, must-read exclusive at Foreign Policy, Colum Lynch reports that the Obama administration has decided to throw its support behind a United Nations Security Council referral of Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC). There is an obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Russia, Syria, UN Security Council, United States | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Peace versus Justice in Syria

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Mark Kersten

As talks between the Syrian government and Syrian opposition stumble in the opening phases of the so-called Geneva II negotiations, a hot topic is whether those parties responsible for atrocity crimes in Syria can and should be prosecuted. Of course, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace Negotiations, Syria | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Syria: Where Not All Deaths Are Treated Equally

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Mark Kersten

Betcy Jose, an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Denver, joins JiC for this thought-provoking guest-post on intervention in Syria and the unequal treatment of human lives – and deaths. Currently, U.S. President Barack Obama is trying to persuade Congress to authorize … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Former ICC Chief Prosecutor Speaks out on Syria, Endorses Conditional Referral

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Mark Kersten

For the most part, Luis Moreno-Ocampo has remained quiet about the work of his former employer, the International Criminal Court (ICC). But in the midst of ongoing debates about the utility and legality of military intervention in Syria, the vocal … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

To Intervene or not to Intervene – R2P and the Murky Legal Options in Syria

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Mark Kersten

James P. Rudolph joins JiC for this guest-post on R2P and the legal options for intervening in Syria. James is an attorney in Washington, D.C. and California where his work focuses on international law. He has previously written on R2P in … Continue reading →

Posted in International Law, Responsibiltiy to Protect (R2P), Syria, UN Security Council, United Nations, United States | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Why Syria Still Won’t be Referred to the ICC

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Mark Kersten

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad probably used chemical weapons in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus. The United Nations responded that it will probably investigate what happened. Still, the International Criminal Court (ICC) probably won’t be investigating … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Russia, Syria, UN Security Council, United Nations | Tagged , | 7 Comments

If the ICC Intervenes in Syria, Where Will Assad Go?

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Mark Kersten

If the International Criminal Court (ICC) ever opens an investigation into Syria, it will almost assuredly become an irresistible trope to claim that the Court’s involvement caused President Bashar al-Assad to “dig his heals in” and “fight to the death”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Exile, International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria | Tagged | 1 Comment

The ICC in Syria: A Ticking-Time Security Council Referral?

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Mark Kersten

Like so many others, I find myself in the morally and politically ambiguous position of having no clue what the international community should do to stop the ongoing violence in Syria, recently described as descending into “a sectarian wasteland”. The … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Syria, UN Security Council | Tagged , | 6 Comments