French-Swedish investigation team set up over ISIS atrocities in Syria, Iraq
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) announced, yesterday, the formation of an investigation joint team between France and Sweden to support measures related to annihilation committed by the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) against Yazidis in Syria and Iraq.
The Eurojust, has set up a joint team between Sweden and France to investigate atrocities committed by the ISIS against the Yazidi community.
Netherlands-based Eurojust supported the setting up of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which will enable the long-term coordination of investigations and the swift sharing of information and evidence.
“The main goal of the team will be to identify foreign terrorist fighters who were involved in core international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, primarily perpetrated against members of the Yazidi minority during the armed conflict in Syria and Iraq.”
In 2014, Yazidis were subjected to genocide at the hands of ISIS militants in Shingal (Sinjar) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) where thousands of Yazidi women and girls were enslaved and children were taken to train as child soldiers.
“The team will also focus on identifying victims and witnesses of these crimes committed by foreign terrorist fighters in Syria and Iraq.”
Investigations in the two JIT countries are ongoing and are coordinated by Eurojust through the Swedish and French National Desks, with the support of the Genocide Network Secretariat, hosted by Eurojust.
Several coordination meetings have been held and the Eurojust has assisted Sweden and France in setting up the team.
“The authorities involved in the JIT will cooperate with the United Nations Investigative Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq.”
Furthermore, the JIT Members will seek the assistance of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic.