What Germany's IS prosecutions can teach Australia
In Germany, world-leading prosecutions against ISIS members for the genocide of the Yazidi have occurred and Australia is set to follow with landmark prosecutions underway.
In May, the Australian Federal Police unveiled a groundbreaking prosecution against Melbourne women, Zeinab Ahmad and her mother Kawsar Ahmad, for alleged crimes committed during the Islamic State's reign over parts of Syria and Iraq. These charges, including crimes against humanity and using a slave, mark the first time such offenses have been brought against Australians.
The prosecutions come amid concerns over the integration of ISIS-linked individuals into Australian society, with Dr. Aldo Zammit-Borda, an international law expert at the University of London, expressing worry that ISIS members could potentially walk freely alongside their victims in Australia or other countries. Dr. Monique Cormier, an expert at Monash University, views these charges as a significant step for Australia, as they represent the first use of laws enacted in 2002 to hold ISIS members accountable for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle for justice faced by Yazidi refugees in Australia, who continue to grapple with the inability to punish their persecutors. Germany has emerged as a global leader in prosecuting ISIS atrocities, leveraging its universal jurisdiction laws to hold perpetrators accountable regardless of their nationality, location, or the crimes' origin.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
