Special Adviser Christian Ritscher speech at the Special Event: The Pattern of Mass Killing: ISIL crimes against Tikrit Air Academy Personnel

Special Event

Towards Prosecuting Core International Crimes Committed by ISIL/Da’esh Members

The Pattern of Mass Killing: ISIL crimes against Tikrit Air Academy Personnel

Remarks by Mr. Christian Ritscher Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh /ISIL

UNHQ-New York 10 June 2022

Your Excellency, Ambassador Mohammed Hossein Bahr Al-Uloom, Your Excellency, Ambassador Miia Rainne, Mr. Sarhang Hamasaeed, Director of Middle East Programs at USIP (United States Institute of Peace)

Distinguished guests and dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a real honour to welcome you all here today, at this important event. I am truly humbled to be addressing you here in this historic chamber of the United Nations.

Today’s event forms part of UNITAD’s cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has grown over the past months. We have been working together, in coordination with Iraqi Embassies in different countries, to organize a series of joint special events aimed at promoting accountability for ISIL’s international crimes. This series of events aims to demonstrate UNITAD’s efforts to advance justice and accountability in partnership with Iraq, and with the Iraqi judiciary in particular. We are also very grateful to the Permanent Mission of Finland for co-hosting this event, and indeed for their strong support of UNITAD since its establishment.

I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I say that we all are present here today because we truly believe in the ultimate goal of achieving accountability and ensuring justice for international crimes committed by militia fighters of Da’esh also known as ISIL. In today’s event, we will be presenting the progress in our investigations into ISIL crimes against the Tikrit Air Academy Personnel, known as Camp Speicher massacre. Our special event comes just two days before the eighth anniversary of this massacre; one of the most heinous crimes committed by ISIL against the predominantly Shia unarmed cadets of the Iraqi Air Force. As you will hear now from my colleague, Ms. Vega Iodice, the team leader of this investigation, UNITAD has completed a case brief on this massacre with detailed evidence that can be used to support prosecutions of ISIL members, including some who are according to our investigations most responsible for those crimes.

Progress in this investigation has been built on close cooperation and engagement with Iraqi national authorities, in particular the Iraqi Judiciary. You will hear more about this work from Judge Yasser Al Koza’ai, the Investigative Judge at Rusafa Court in Baghdad, who unfortunately can’t be with us in person today, but has recorded a video presentation for this event.

As I just reported to the Security Council two days ago, UNITAD’s structural investigations aim to investigate core international crimes committed against all affected communities in Iraq, including the Shia, the Sunni, the Yazidi, the Christian, the Kaka’i, the Shabak and the Turkmen Shia. Those structural investigations stem from the core belief of UNITAD that the magnitude of ISIL’s crimes affected a wide range of Iraqi faiths and communities. To us, there is no hierarchy in victims. The victim and survivor-centric approach which UNITAD adopts means that every and each victim and survivor matters, and that all international crimes committed by ISIL members should be thoroughly investigated.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Iraq remains UNITAD’s main ally and partner. First and foremost, because UNITAD was established at the request of the Government of Iraq, backed by the unanimous and remarkable support of the international community. But more importantly, because we work with Iraqi counterparts, in particular the Iraqi judiciary, on a daily basis, to move forward with our work to serve the ultimate goal which I just mentioned: achieving accountability and ensuring justice for international crimes committed by members of ISIL in Iraq. What we want to see is ISIL perpetrators held accountable for international crimes through evidence-based trials before competent courts, and according to international standards. This is already taking place in several countries. We are working to support national prosecutions to see more of those trials, including in Iraq.

UNITAD is working to assist and support the Iraqi judiciary in delivering justice for those international crimes committed by ISIL against various communities in Iraq. Our compass remains to meet the expectations and needs of those victims and survivors, who have been waiting to see their day in court and to see justice served. Our work also helps establish a judicial record of the crimes committed by ISIL; crimes against humanity, war crimes and in some cases even genocide. As there is no statute of limitations on international crimes, this record of evidence can be used to hold ISIL perpetrators accountable as long as even one perpetrator remains alive.

The way forward as I see it is for the Iraqi judiciary, with the support of UNITAD, to work on building cases about specific incidents, and specific alleged perpetrators who can be tried for international crimes in Iraq. A main challenge on this way forward, is the absence of an appropriate legal framework that allows the qualification of crimes committed by the ISIL militia fighters as international crimes in Iraq. There have been a number of discussions and suggestions with Iraq to best advance such a process. UNITAD stands ready to provide technical advice as soon as the Iraq lead legislation process resumes.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The pursuit of ISIL accountability is a global effort, beyond the borders of one state and beyond the competency of one jurisdiction. For this reason, we must work closely together to end impunity and ensure that justice can be served in the names of victims and survivors. UNITAD is doing its part in Iraq, side by side with the Iraqi authorities including the authorities of the Kurdish Regional Government. Collectively, we have an opportunity to show that justice for international crimes committed by ISIL is attainable, by charging core international crimes, through due process trials, and by building cases based on evidence and witness testimonies according to international standards. I assure you that UNITAD will spare no effort in working towards this goal.

I thank you all again for being present with us today.