British police are free to investigate members of the Egyptian cabinet for war crimes confirmed the UK High Court on Thursday, after ruling that they were not immune from investigation.
The UK Crown Prosecution Service agreed to inform the Metropolitan Police that “issues of immunity do not preclude investigations into allegations against persons still in office, irrespective of their function, for the purpose of future prosecution”.
Whilst there may still be further legal challenges ahead with immunity for foreign government members accused of war crimes, the ruling means the War Crimes Team of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, SO15, can investigate the cases of Egyptain members thought to have been responsible for reported massacres in Cairo last year.
A member of the legal team Tayab Ali, commented on the ruling saying, "there are fewer and fewer safe havens for those that commit international crimes.”
See more from the Middle East Eye here.
The UK Crown Prosecution Service agreed to inform the Metropolitan Police that “issues of immunity do not preclude investigations into allegations against persons still in office, irrespective of their function, for the purpose of future prosecution”.
Whilst there may still be further legal challenges ahead with immunity for foreign government members accused of war crimes, the ruling means the War Crimes Team of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, SO15, can investigate the cases of Egyptain members thought to have been responsible for reported massacres in Cairo last year.
A member of the legal team Tayab Ali, commented on the ruling saying, "there are fewer and fewer safe havens for those that commit international crimes.”
See more from the Middle East Eye here.