ICC issues arrest warrant for Sudan’s president

On March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudan's president, Omar Al Bashir. (Click here to read the ICC's press release.) In a short video, Ken Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, asserts that this step shows the world that nobody, not even a head-of-state, is above the law when it comes to crimes against humanity.

On March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudan's president, Omar Al Bashir. (Click here to read the ICC's press release.) In a short video, Ken Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, asserts that this step shows the world that nobody, not even a head-of-state, is above the law when it comes to crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch has also compiled an accessible and informative page, "Q & A: International Criminal Court's decision on Al-Bashir's Arrest Warrant" that explains the ICC's decision within the larger context of international law. In an interview with NPR, Prosecutor for the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, explains the courts decision to issue a warrant, "World Court Issues Warrant For Sudan's President."  The BBC News has posted a video of Bashir vowing to defy the ICC.  Two New York Times editorials provide different perspectives on the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant. While Archbishop Desmond Tutu argues that it is important for African nations to stand on the side of justice by arresting Bashir, humanitarian Franklin Graham believes that Bashir's arrest will only lead to greater instability in the region.