Current:Home > Stocks5 European nations and Canada seek to join genocide case against Myanmar at top UN court -Quantum Growth Learning
5 European nations and Canada seek to join genocide case against Myanmar at top UN court
View
Date:2025-04-13 14:30:25
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Five European countries and Canada are seeking to join a case brought by Gambia at the United Nations’ highest court that accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against its Rohingya minority.
The International Court of Justice said Thursday that Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK had joined with Canada in filing a “declaration of intervention in the case.” The Maldives filed a separate declaration.
Under the court’s rules, the declarations mean those countries will be able to make legal arguments in the case brought in 2019 following international outrage at the treatment of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority. Hundreds of thousands fled to neighboring Bangladesh amid a brutal crackdown by Myanmar forces.
Gambia argued that it and Myanmar are both parties to the 1948 convention outlawing genocide and that all signatories have a duty to ensure it is enforced. It asked the court to declare Myanmar in breach of the convention.
The court has already ruled it has jurisdiction, though hearings in the case have not been scheduled.
Myanmar’s military launched what it called a clearance campaign in Rakhine state in 2017 in the aftermath of an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled into neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and torching thousands of Rohingya homes.
Myanmar tried unsuccessfully to have the case thrown out, arguing the world court can only hear disputes between nations and Gambia was acting on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The judges also dismissed Myanmar’s claim that Gambia could not file the case as it was not directly linked to the events in Myanmar and that a legal dispute did not exist between the two countries before the case was filed.
The International Court of Justice rules on disputes between states. It is not linked to the International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, which holds individuals accountable for atrocities. Prosecutors at the ICC are investigating crimes committed against the Rohingya.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 12 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- Alexandra Daddario shares first postpartum photo of baby: 'Women's bodies are amazing'
- Former West Virginia jail officer pleads guilty to civil rights violation in fatal assault on inmate
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Military veteran gets time served for making ricin out of ‘curiosity’
- Colorado police shot, kill mountain lion after animal roamed on school's campus
- Stop smartphone distractions by creating a focus mode: Video tutorial
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.
Ranking
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- Amazon Prime Video to stream Diamond Sports' regional networks
- Kendall Jenner Is Back to Being a Brunette After Ditching Blonde Hair
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
- Detroit-area police win appeal over liability in death of woman in custody
- Michelle Obama Is Diving Back into the Dating World—But It’s Not What You Think
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650 million, just 3 years after buying the app for $7.3 billion
Mississippi governor intent on income tax cut even if states receive less federal money
Mike Tomlin's widely questioned QB switch to Russell Wilson has quieted Steelers' critics
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
Maine elections chief who drew Trump’s ire narrates House tabulations in livestream
Volunteer firefighter accused of setting brush fire on Long Island