Government could deport terrorists to The Hague's international criminal court to face trial after ruling by Council of Europe.
The UK's security service MI5 estimates some 815 Brits left the country to fight with the terror group, with about half now returned to UK shores.
However, none have been charged with war crimes that would see them stand trial at the international criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Council of Europe, which is not part of the European Union's bureaucracy, ruled last year that membership of the depraved terror group, also known as Daesh, is legitimate grounds for prosecution at the ICC.
It means that any of the council's 47 member countries, including Britain, could deport citizens to face trial at The Hague.
Labour's Liam Byrne, the shadow minister for digital economy, backed the decision and wants to see ISIS members put on trial, reported the Sunday Mirror.
He said: “We know British citizens were soldiers and commanders in Daesh’s army of evil. Yet not a single soldier captured on their return has been charged with war crimes or genocide.”
He added: "The Government must look again at throwing the full weight of international law at those who took part in crimes against humanity.”
The Council of Europe's ruling read: "Individuals who act in the name of Deash have perpetrated acts of genocide and other serious crimes punishable under international law."
The UK Parliament backed the decision with a unanimous vote in April 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment