15.06.12 - ICTR/ICC - ICTR PRESIDENT JOINS ICC CONCERN OVER STAFF DETAINMENT IN LIBYA

Arusha, June 15, 2012 (FH) – The President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Danish Judge Vagn Joensen, has joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) in urging for immediate release of its staff members being held in Zintan (Libya).

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ICC staff members, Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor and her colleagues, were arrested on June 7, 2012, on accusations of smuggling documents to Muammar Gaddafi's detained son, Saif al-Islam, who has been indicted by the court for crimes against humanity.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Joensen expressed his deep concern over the continued detention of the court’s staff members in Libya for more than one week now and joined the ICC President, Sang-Hyun Song in urging their immediate release.

"This deplorable situation affecting our sister institution is wholly unacceptable – immunity of staff on official mission of an international court is of paramount importance to that court’s ability to properly function,” the statement quoted him as saying.

“I stand ready to assist in any way that may be requested in order to help ensure the safe return of the detained ICC staff members”, he added.

The four ICC staff members were on an official mission in compliance with an order by a Pre-Trial Chamber. A delegation from the ICC on Tuesday visited them in Zintan, a small city in north western Libya where they are being held.

FK/GF