Press release | UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: Abu Zubaydah v. the United States, Thailand, Poland, Morocco, Lithuania, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) has reached a groundbreaking decision in the case of Zayn Al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn (Abu Zubaydah) v. United States of America, Thailand, Poland, Morocco, Lithuania, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom. The UNWGAD decision finds that Mr. Zubaydah's detention has no lawful basis, and the US should immediately release him and provide reparation.
The UNWGAD also expresses ‘grave concern’ about detention at Guantanamo Bay and notes that systematic deprivation of liberty may ‘constitute crimes against humanity.’ The UNWGAD further expresses that the US should prioritise closing the Guantanamo Bay facility. The recently released decision of the UNWGAD is unprecedented in several ways, especially because it is the first international decision concerning the notorious torture and ongoing arbitrary detention of ‘forever prisoner’ Abu Zubaydah to be issued against the United States (US). Furthermore, it is the first international case finding against the U.K., Morocco, Thailand and Afghanistan for their roles in rendition, torture and arbitrary detention, and it is also the first case against multiple states for their contributions to rendition torture and detention at Guantanamo. Seven states have been found “jointly responsible” for the many ongoing violations of Abu Zubaydah’s rights established in the decision. The UN Working Group explicitly calls for Abu Zubaydah's release, rehabilitation and compensation, the closure of Guantanamo and the investigation of what it notably terms "crimes against humanity" at Guantanamo.
To view the full press release following the UNWGAD decision,
click here. To read the full decision by UNWGAD,
click here. To know more about the case,
click here.
Press release | Hope Rikkelman, Head of Iraq & Syria projects at The Nuhanovic Foundation, invited to serve as Panelist and receive a Humanitarian Award at the 2023 International Law Conference on the Status of Women
The Nuhanovic Foundation is delighted to announce that Hope Rikkelman, Head of Iraq and Syria projects at The Nuhanovic Foundation and Director of Yazidi Legal Network, has been invited by the United Nations and African Affairs Committees of the New York City Bar Association to serve as a panelist and receive a Humanitarian Award at the 2023 International Law Conference on the Status of Women, hosted at the New York City Bar Association on Wednesday, on 8th March, 2023.
To read the full press release, click
here.
The International Law Conference on the Status of Women will take place at the New York City Bar Association on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 5:00 – 8:30 PM (New York Time).
To register for the conference,
click here.
Press release | Verdict by The District Court of The Hague in Chora case
On Wednesday, 23rd November 2022, the District Court of The Hague delivered its verdict on the case of Chora plaintiffs vs The Dutch State. The Court ruled that the bombing by Dutch military of a Quala – an enclosed residential compound - in the district of Chora, Afghanistan in 2007, was unlawful and that the State must pay compensation to (the relatives of) the victims. The Dutch State failed to refute the contention that the attack was in violation of the international humanitarian law principle of distinction which requires that targeting must be done in such a way as to avoid civilian casualties wherever possible. The court was therefore bound to conclude that the bombardment was unlawful. The Dutch State is now liable to compensate the claimants, who lost in total twenty family members. The details of the compensation will be worked out in a following procedure.
The Nuhanovic Foundation warmly welcomes this courageous decision, since the Foundation has provided financial assistance from the onset by providing funds to cover the initial investigations into the case.
To view the entire press release, click
here. To read the case summary and the complete ruling, click
here.
Press release | Chora case
On Wednesday, 23rd November 2022, the District Court of The Hague will deliver its verdict on the Chora case that has been brought against the Dutch state for alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law during a battle for the town of Chora, Afghanistan in 2007 which resulted in the death of between 50-80 civilians.
Click here to view the press release. To know more about the case,
click here.
Nuhanovic Foundation | 10 year celebrations
On the 7th of July, we celebrated our 10 years anniversary!
