Judgment At Raqqa: The Leader Of The Islamic State, And His Key Associates Should Be Charged With Crimes Against Humanity
Judgment At Raqqa: The Leader Of The Islamic State, And His Key Associates Should Be Charged With Crimes Against Humanity
R.C. Porter
Seventy years ago, November 20, 1945, the Nuremberg War Crimes trials began. As The History Channel describes it, these were "a series of 13 trials," military tribunals, overseen by the Allied forces at the end of WWII," to prosecute the key leaders of the Nazi high command for their participation in implementing Hitler's "Final Solution. These leaders oversaw the extermination of millions of Jews — put to death in gas chambers and by other hideous methods across Eastern Europe. The trials were conducted in Nuremberg Germany, the city that was the nerve center where Hitler's poisonous philosophy got its start.
Between November 1945 and October 1946, the Nuremberg Trial Judges, were "given the task of trying 23 [was 24 but one defendant committed suicide before the trials began] of the most important political and military leaders of the Third Reich. As the History Channel noted, six Nazi organizations were also singled out as being key facilitators of of this repulsive movement — and, ultimately determined to be criminal — such as the "Gestapo," (secret state police). In all, 200 German war crimes defendants were tried in Nuremberg; and, some 1,600 others were tried under the traditional channels of military justice, Wikipedia noted.
While there were those at the time who decried the trials as nothing more than a modern day lynching, and 'victor's justice,' most historians give the trials high marks for demonstrating that men/people can go too far, even in war; and, that crimes against humanity have a special place all its own in terms of requiring those who commit such evil — to be held accountable for their actions. The old adage, "I was only following orders," was no longer a defense.
According to Wikipedia,
"Crimes Against Humanity are certain acts which are committed as part of a widespread, systemic attack directed against any civilian population, or an identifiable part of a population. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity can be committed during peace, or war. They are not isolated, or sporadic events; but, are part of either government policy, or a wide practice of atrocities tolerated, or condoned by a government — or de facto authority. Murder, massacres, dehumanization, extermination; human experimentation, extrajudicial punishments, death squads, forced disappearances; military use of children; kidnappings; unjust punishment; slavery; cannibalism, torture, rape, political, racial, or religious persecution — that may include the use of blasphemy laws, or laws against defamation of religion, or other similar wording, or inappropriate speech laws; and, other inhumane acts may reach the threshold of crimes against humanity — if they are part of a widespread, or systemic practice."
Sound familiar? It is pretty clear to even the most pro-Islamic scholar, that the Islamic State; and, its key leadership should be charged with Crimes Against Humanity. Not since WWII has the personification of evil manifested itself to such a prominent state — for all to see. The U.S., the West, and the entire world will be guilty of giving evil a pass — if we do not use this opportunity to once again say — there are such gross acts of evil that require to be judged and condemned.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his key henchmen should be treated the same as the Nazi war criminals were. Condemned by the world, and held accountable for their actions — in perpetuity. The West and those we bring along with us, can stand united against the banality of evil; and, use the power of social media to demonstrate resolve; and, hopefully deter others from ever going down this path — again.. Such a war crimes trial could have a powerful ,and negative impact on the Islamic State's ability to recruit new members, especially in Europe and America. Granted, the trial and its outcome might not have such an impact in the militant Islamic 'community,' but, outside of that collective — the Islamic State leadership would be forever branded as a pariah and wanted men, or women, on the run, for the rest of their lives. Finding sanctuary and safe harbor would not be impossible — key Nazi's such as Adolph Eichman were successful in avoiding capture for many years, fleeing to Latin America and elsewhere. But, the leaders of the Islamic State would likely find safe harbor — at least constrained, and more limited than it is now. Perhaps a modern day version of Simon Wiesenthal — to hunt and track down former Islamic State leaders would emerge.
Edmund Burke once said that "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men stand by and do nothing.'' As Dante Alghieri so eloquently wrote in his 14th century epic poem — Dante's Inferno — the hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in times of great crisis or conflict — take a position of neutrality. Seventy years after the Nuremberg War Crimes trials, the world is once again witnessing the height of evil being prosecuted by the Islamic State.
It is important that the civilized world move now to set in motion, the judicial mechanisms that will lead to the trial, and hopefully, ultimate conviction of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and his key henchmen — for crimes against humanity. They need not be present or captured to stand trial — they can be tried and convicted in absentia.
The 1961 movie classic, Judgment At Nuremberg, staring Spencer Tracy as the Chief Judge overseeing the trials at Nuremberg, educated and reminded a post-war baby boom generation what the personification of evil looked like; and, why it was so important to confront it — and judge it accordingly. It is time for a 21st century version of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials — and for the world to stand up and demand that evil be condemned; and, for those who engage in this inhumane endeavor — to be held accountable.
Yes, we need to continue to kill these evildoers whenever, and wherever we can. But, a two-pronged approach is needed. Killing the idea and philosophy is as important, if not more so — as killing them individually. We need. A Judgment At Raqqa.
