Displaced Iraqi children from the Yazidi community watch a football match on televison inside a tent at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Khanke, a few kilometres from the Turkish border in Iraq's Dohuk province, on January 20, 2023.

Displaced Iraqi children from the Yazidi community watch a football match on televison inside a tent at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Khanke, a few kilometres from the Turkish border in Iraq's Dohuk province, on January 20, 2023. AFP via Getty Images / SAFIN HAMED

Still Waiting for an International Tribunal on ISIS

It would help Iraq restore the rule of law, deter future violence, and give victims a mechanism for redress and healing.

ISIS had a devastating impact on Iraq. From 2014 to 2017, the terrorist group wreaked havoc on the country, causing death, destruction, and the displacement of thousands of civilians. Five years later, Iraq is still emerging from the shadow of ISIS and there is a pressing need to restore security and justice. Throughout those years, many have called for the creation of an international tribunal, hoping to bring those perpetrators to justice. It’s not too late to start.

First, a tribunal would provide a mechanism for the victims of ISIS to obtain redress. During its reign of terror, ISIS committed many atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. Many Iraqis suffered irreparable harm at the hands of the group and deserve justice. An international tribunal could help hold the perpetrators accountable and provide reparations to the victims.

Second, an international tribunal would send a powerful message to ISIS and other would-be terrorists. Establishing such a court would signal that the world will not tolerate their violation of global norms and that those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity will be held responsible for their actions. Such a message could help deter future acts of terrorism and promote global security.

Third, an international tribunal would help Iraq restore the rule of law. After years of conflict and instability, the country needs a robust, independent judicial system to ensure justice. By partnering with the international community to establish a tribunal, Iraq can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and provide a framework for holding those who commit crimes accountable.

Critics of international tribunals often argue that they are expensive, time-consuming, and ineffective. While these concerns are valid, they are not insurmountable. If established in partnership with Iraq's existing judiciary, an international tribunal would help address concerns about cost and efficiency. Additionally, the tribunal could focus on the most egregious crimes committed by ISIS rather than attempting to address every violation of international law.

Establishing an international tribunal in post-ISIS Iraq would not be without its challenges, but the potential benefits are too great to ignore. By providing redress to the victims, deterring future acts of terrorism, and helping Iraq restore the rule of law, an international tribunal could play a crucial role in creating a safer and more just society in Iraq. It is time for the international community to support this important initiative and demonstrate its commitment to justice and security.

Beyond these benefits, establishing an international tribunal in post-ISIS Iraq could also help foster and expand the recovery and healing of the social cohesion of the communities devastated by ISIS. The traumatic effects of ISIS on the Iraqi people are far-reaching and long-lasting, and the consequences of the group's atrocities continue reverberating throughout society. Establishing an international tribunal would help provide closure to the victims and send a clear message that the international coalition did not only fight ISIS to serve the interest of their countries, but it was a global fight against the organized terrorism of ISIS.

The healing process requires more than just addressing the immediate needs of the victims and their families. It requires establishing a safe and just environment where individuals and communities can heal and rebuild their lives. An international tribunal can play a critical role in this process by providing an avenue for the survivors to share their stories and bear witness to the atrocities committed against them.

Furthermore, an international tribunal would serve as a crucial mechanism for holding accountable those responsible for the heinous crimes committed by ISIS. These crimes have caused significant harm to the Iraqi people, and the perpetrators must be held responsible for their actions.

OMAR MOHAMMED is a historian and citizen journalist from Mosul, Iraq, who documented life under ISIS through his blog ‘Mosul Eye.’

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.