: Central African Republic: Said trial opens at International Criminal Court #IndiaNEWS #International The trial of a paramilitary commander accused of carrying out or ordering crimes against humanity

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Central African Republic: Said trial opens at International Criminal Court #IndiaNEWS #International
The trial of a paramilitary commander accused of carrying out or ordering crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Central African Republic (CAR) began on Monday in The Hague.








“The victims all hope that the trial which opens today before you constitutes a guarantee that never again such crimes will be committed. � – Sarah Pellet, Legal Representative of Victims, at the opening of the trial in the #Said case pic. twitter. com/RbXTgu4vUS
— Intl Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) September 26, 2022


Mahamat Said Abdel Kani a top-ranking leader of the mostly-Muslim Séléka militia pleaded not guilty to all charges, which relate to atrocities carried out in 2013, in the Central African Republic capital, Bangui.
Much of the violence stemmed for clashes between Séléka and the mostly-Christian Anti-balaka faction.
Occupation
Before the crimes were committed, from late 2012 to early 2013, Séléka militia advanced towards the capital, attacking police stations, occupying military bases, capturing towns and regional capitals, and targeting suspected supporters of President François Bozizé.
They seized Bangui in March 2013 and with forces numbering up to 20,000, looted homes while searching for sympathisers of Mr. Bozize, shot those fleeing in the back or killed others in their homes.
“Women and girls were raped and gang-raped in front of their children or parents; some died as a result of their injuries,� the arrest warrant for Mr. Said stated.
Civilians targetted
“Part of the civilian population was targeted through multiple acts of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution on political, ethnic and religious grounds, and pillaging of houses belonging to non-Muslims and others perceived to be complicit with or supportive of the Bozizé government,� the warrant continued.
Mr. Kani’s charge sheet includes imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts, committed in Bangui between approximately April and November 2013.
He saw “oversaw the day-to-day operations� of an infamous detention centre where men were taken after being arrested by Séléka members.






© ICC-CPI
The Judges of Trial Chamber VI at the opening of the Mahamat Said Abdel Kani trial case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague (Netherlands).


Appalling conditions
“Prisoners were held in small, dark, crowded cells with only a bucket as a toilet and little or no food, causing detainees to drink their own urine,� the ICC statement read.
Detainees were whipped with strips of rubber, beaten with rifle butts and told: “We’re going to kill you one by one�.

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