Tuesday, November 30, 2004

CCR Update

The Center for Constitutional Rights has filed their war crimes complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor's Office (details here). Their press release states, in part:

We are asking the German prosecutor to launch an investigation: since the U.S. government is unwilling to open an independent investigation into the responsibility of these officials for war crimes, and since the U.S. has refused to join the International Criminal Court, CCR and the Iraqi victims have brought this complaint in Germany as a court of last resort. Several of the defendants are stationed in Germany...

German law allows German courts to prosecute for killing, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, forcible transfers and sexual coercion such as occurred at Abu Ghraib. The world has seen the photographs and read the leaked “torture memos” – we are doing what is necessary when other systems of justice have failed and seeking to hold officials up the chain of command responsible for the shameful abuses that occurred.
The CCR link now has a form letter on their site that can be sent to the prosecutor, urging action. Please take a moment and add your name to the list. I'll update as things develop...