Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Dec. 1 urged the prosecutor’s office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite inquiry into international crimes committed in Afghanistan. In November the ICC released the Report on Preliminary Examination Activities (PDF) finding that over 14,300 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2007 and that violence against women has increased. The report also stated that armed anti-government groups and government armed forces have reportedly recruited and used children in attacks. The HRW said that the Afghanistan situation has been under analysis by the ICC since 2007 and that given the alleged ongoing commissions of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC should now expedite their fact-finding mission to Afghanistan.
From Jurist, Dec. 1. Used with permission.
In 2007, Afghanistan passed an amnesty law, which has been repeatedly protested by HRW.
Suicide bombing at Kabul restaurant
At least 16 people, including both Afghans and foreigners, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a popular Lebanese restaurant in Kabul Jan. 17. Taliban fighters claimed responsibility for the attack in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, which hosts many embassies and restaurants that cater to expatriates. (Al Jazeera)