Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cannot be tried in Belgium for war crimes in the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon, an Appeals Court in Belgium ruled, today. The court ruled that Belgian authorities may prosecute crimes, allegedly committed in other countries, but only if the accused resides in Belgium. A ruling by the International Court of Justice, earlier this year, stated that the principle of Diplomatic Immunity apples to senior government officials and that they cannot be arrested or tried in a country, other than their own, while in office.
That ruling does not apply in this instance, for Ariel Sharon is accused of Genocide and such a crime was specifically singled out as being exempt from the World Court ruling, since the Geneva Conventions take priority. They state that any nation-state can try anyone, at any time, for Genocide. (Please see “Diplomatic Immunity” in our International Law section.)
That ruling does not apply in this instance, for Ariel Sharon is accused of Genocide and such a crime was specifically singled out as being exempt from the World Court ruling, since the Geneva Conventions take priority. They state that any nation-state can try anyone, at any time, for Genocide. (Please see “Diplomatic Immunity” in our International Law section.)
Lawyers for the Plaintiffs will appeal the Belgian court Decision. The case was originally brought by Palestinian survivors of the 1982 massacre in Beirut. An Israeli court had previously held Ariel Sharon responsible for the massacre.
Here follows a Statement by the attorneys for the Plaintiffs, plus a comment by Doctor Laurie King-Irani, North American Coordinator, International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra and Shatila and a preliminary analysis from Amnesty International.
Here follows a Statement by the attorneys for the Plaintiffs, plus a comment by Doctor Laurie King-Irani, North American Coordinator, International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra and Shatila and a preliminary analysis from Amnesty International.