Civil rights organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday claimed that the International Criminal Court had decided to probe the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa.
This was disclosed in a statement released yesterday by SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.
According to SERAP, ICC made the decision following a petition letter it sent to the court calling on the prosecutor, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, to investigate allegations of hate speech made by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, which triggered the killings, violence and discrimination against Nigerians and other African citizens living in South Africa
The organisation had, in a petition dated April 23, 2015 and sent to the court, requested Mrs Bensouda to use her “good offices and position to bring to justice anyone who is responsible for these international crimes prohibited under the Rome Statute of the ICC.
SERAP said that, in response to its letter, the ICC, in a letter dated April 28, 2015, and signed by M.P. Dillon, head of Information and Evidence Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor, stated, “The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC acknowledges receipt of your documents.
“This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the ICC. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
SERAP in its petition had said that it “considers the use of speech by the Zulu King to promote hatred and/or incite violence against non-nationals such as Nigerians, particularly in the media, as a clear violation of the provisions of the Rome Statute of ICC.” (Leadership)
This was disclosed in a statement released yesterday by SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.
According to SERAP, ICC made the decision following a petition letter it sent to the court calling on the prosecutor, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, to investigate allegations of hate speech made by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, which triggered the killings, violence and discrimination against Nigerians and other African citizens living in South Africa
The organisation had, in a petition dated April 23, 2015 and sent to the court, requested Mrs Bensouda to use her “good offices and position to bring to justice anyone who is responsible for these international crimes prohibited under the Rome Statute of the ICC.
SERAP said that, in response to its letter, the ICC, in a letter dated April 28, 2015, and signed by M.P. Dillon, head of Information and Evidence Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor, stated, “The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC acknowledges receipt of your documents.
“This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the ICC. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
SERAP in its petition had said that it “considers the use of speech by the Zulu King to promote hatred and/or incite violence against non-nationals such as Nigerians, particularly in the media, as a clear violation of the provisions of the Rome Statute of ICC.” (Leadership)
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