Today, on the International Day of Criminal Justice, 17th July, C4RJ Criminal Justice Working Group reaffirms Iraq’s urgent need for comprehensive, survivor-centered accountability.
The transfer in early 2026 of over 5,000 ISIS affiliates from Syria to Iraq presents a historic opportunity to ensure that those responsible for ISIS atrocities are held accountable for the full scope of their crimes.
To date, accountability efforts have remained limited. In Iraq, ISIS members have largely been prosecuted under terrorism-related charges, leaving core crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity war crimes, sexual violence, killings, torture, enslavement, militarization, and forced displacement, unaddressed in judicial proceedings. This approach has prevented the establishment of an authoritative judicial record of ISIS crimes committed against all affected communities and has excluded survivors from meaningful participation in justice processes.
Aware that the opportunity to prosecute the new ISIS detainees for international crimes might be short, adopting an International Crimes Draft Law is now more important than ever. The C4JR has therefore continued to advocate for the enactment of an Iraqi law that enables the prosecution of core international crimes law would ensure that the true nature and gravity of ISIS crimes are recognized while placing the rights, voices, and experiences of survivors at the center of justice.
For survivors, justice means more than convictions. It means truth, acknowledgment of the harm they endured, meaningful participation in judicial processes, and access to effective reparations that help restore dignity and rebuild lives.
Accountability for ISIS crimes is not only a legal obligation but a necessary foundation for reconciliation, sustainable peace and global security.
As Iraq assumes responsibility for prosecuting thousands of ISIS suspects, this is a defining moment to strengthen its legal framework by enacting a Law on Core International Crimes, uphold the rule of law, and deliver justice that not only punishes perpetrators but also recognizes and empowers victims, restores their agency, and helps prevent future atrocities
