EU agency wants ′IS′ returnees charged with war crimes

A new report from an EU-backed genocide investigation body says adding war crimes and genocide to terrorism charges for ‘IS’ fighters returning to the EU will lead to tougher sentences and “more justice” for victims.

According to the network, many so-called returning foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) affiliated with IS only face charges under domestic terrorism laws in their EU home countries, which come with a statute of limitations that sets a time limit to prosecution.

However, “core international crimes,” like genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, can be prosecuted without a statute of limitations and be added to domestic terrorism charges. Culminating charges can lead to stiffer sentencing, the report said.

The Genocide Network said in the report that the legal basis for prosecuting former IS members should be amended, arguing the group’s activities in Iraq and Syria fulfilled legal criteria under international humanitarian law as an “organized non-state armed group.”

“Therefore, its members and foreign terrorist fighters could be responsible for committing war crimes and other core international crimes.”

Source:syriahr.com