Rohingya Muslims”/>International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking an arrest warrant for the head of Myanmar’s junta over the deportation and persecution of Rohingya Muslims.
According to prosecutor Karim, these crimes were committed from 25 August to 31 December 2017 by the Myanmar Armed Forces, and supported by the national police, border police and non-Rohingya civilians.
“After a thorough, independent and impartial investigation, my Office has concluded that there are sufficient grounds to believe that Senior General and Acting President Min Aung Hlaing, Supreme Commander of the Myanmar Defense Forces, bears criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity of deportation and the persecution of the Rohingya, carried out in Myanmar, and partly in Bangladesh,” said Karim Khan.
Khan emphasized that the application was submitted based on various evidence from a number of sources such as witness statements, documentary evidence, as well as legitimate scientific materials, photos and videos. He added this was the first application for an arrest warrant against a top Myanmar government official filed by the prosecutor’s office.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Rohingya. More than one million members of their community were forced to flee violence in Myanmar,” said Khan.
“We thank all parties who have provided testimony and support to my Office, those who have shared their stories, those who have provided us with information and materials,” he said. (Anadolu/Ant/P-3)
#ICC #Arrests #Myanmar #Junta #Persecution #Rohingya #Muslims
How might the Myanmar junta respond to the ICC’s move to seek an arrest warrant for its leader?
## ICC Seeks Arrest Warrant for Myanmar Junta Leader
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. We’re joined today by Dr. Anya Sharma, a renowned international law expert, to discuss the breaking news that the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for the head of Myanmar’s military junta. Dr. Sharma, can you tell us more about this development?
**Dr. Sharma:** Absolutely. This is a significant development in the ongoing Rohingya crisis. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan KC announced on Wednesday that the court has filed an application for an arrest warrant against Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military. [[1](https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/11/icc-seeks-arrest-warrant-for-myanmar-military-chief-over-rohingya-crimes/)]The prosecutor stated there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that Min Aung Hlaing bears criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya minority.
**Host:** What specific crimes are being alleged here?
**Dr. Sharma:** The ICC prosecutor hasn’t yet publicly detailed the specific charges, but past investigations have documented atrocities committed against the Rohingya people, including mass killings, sexual violence, arson, and the systematic destruction of Rohingya villages. These actions have forced hundreds of thousands to flee to neighboring countries.
**Host:** This is a major accusation against the leader of Myanmar. What are the potential ramifications of this warrant?
**Dr. Sharma:** The warrant will immediately put pressure on Min Aung Hlaing and the military junta. It sends a clear message that the international community will not tolerate these crimes. While Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, the court has jurisdiction over crimes committed by nationals of member states. This means the warrant could potentially be enforced if Min Aung Hlaing travels to a country that is a signatory to the Rome Statute which established the ICC.
**Host:** What is the response from Myanmar so far?
**Dr. Sharma:** We haven’t yet heard an official response from the Myanmar junta regarding the warrant. However, they have consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing and rejected the authority of the ICC in the past.
**Host:** This is a complex and evolving situation. Dr. Sharma, thank you for providing your valuable insight into this critical issue.
**Dr. Sharma:** My pleasure.
