Since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, jihad has become symbolic of the confrontation between Muslims and the West. According to popular views, jihad represents a religiously sanctioned war to propagate or defend the faith by defensive and aggressive means. However, there is not one single meaning of jihad, but many different interpretations. In the most recent decades of Islamic history, jihad was invoked as an instrument for the legitimation of political action, be it armed resistance against foreign occupation, the struggle for self-determination, or retaliatory attacks against the West. The evolution and contemporary abuses of jihad cannot be understood without a connection to the modern political context in which such action takes place. The aim of this book is thus to clarify the meanings of jihad and the manipulation of its sense since the rise of political Islam during the 1960s. Its authors address the intellectual underpinnings of the concept of jihad, and link it to the narratives and historical contexts in which jihad in its various meanings has been interpreted and applied. It draws a parallel between Islamic humanitarian tradition and international humanitarian law, challenging the distorted interpretation of peace and war in Islam. It aims also at exploring the impact that jihad has on international law and domestic law through state practice and in view of the mounting call that law should adapt to the new reality of transnational terrorism. The mixture of authors from Muslim as well as Western countries allows for a true dialogue between cultures and a diversity of views on the issue. This book is obviously highly recommended reading for academics and practitioners dealing with Islamic, national and international law and all those intrigued by and interested in the subject. Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni is Distinguished Research Professor of Law Emeritus, and President Emeritus, at the International Human Rights Law Institute, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois. He has served the United Nations in various capacities, all in the field of humanitarian law, international criminal law and human rights law. Amna Guellali is a Senior Researcher at the department of international humanitarian and criminal law of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, The Hague, The Netherlands.

The United States has historically been regarded as a moral leader opening the pathway for human rights. The country which for so long has struggled for the establishment of the rule of law - as well as to be a model for other nations in observing it - has, since September11, 2001, committed abhorrent practices of torture, which the US has fought against when committed by others. What seems astonishing is that such practices took place within a climate of significant public indifference, and even with some public support. Time and again, observers of tragic historic events reveal that it is not so much the evil doing of the few which allows the worst atrocities to occur, as it is the indifference of the many. The Bush administration assumed neither moral nor legal responsibility, and in the end, it is hard-put to show what positive results may have been obtained for so many transgressions. The history of law and legal institutions has long proven the error of accepting the Machiavellian principle that "the ends justify the means." In addition, the proposition that torture prevents terrorism cannot be proven true. Under torture, people tend to say whatever is expected of them. However, this is not only about pragmatic pursuits. It is about morality and ethics. The judgement has already been made that torture is unlawful. In addition, the Guantanamo Bay practices and the unlawful seizure of persons in different parts of the world by the CIA - after which they are transferred to countries where they are tortured - have proven that hard evidence is highly unlikely to be attained under torture. Most of the detainees have been proven to have no connection to terrorism and most of them have been released because they were wrongly arrested. Guantanamo represents a failed policy that has done much damage to the moral authority of the US. Aberrant views of torture as necessary because "the ends justify the means" have not generated much negative reaction from the legal profession - despite the fact that the 1984 Convention against Torture, the Geneva Conventions, the US Constitution, and the laws of the US have clearly prohibited such practices. This book examines such questions as: Are the events of September 11, 2001 enough to have us reopen the question of whether the medieval practice of torture should be allowed? Are they enough to have its institutionalized practice undermine the integrity of the US legal process and system of law, and to undermine the country's moral leadership in the world? The answer to these questions has to be a resounding and unqualified "no." The US must, therefore, take quick and confident action to make amends and to hold responsible those who promoted a policy of torture. M. Cherif Bassiouni, in April 2012, received the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award which is given by the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law to a distinguished scholar or practitioner who has made outstanding contributions to the field of international law. *** ..".exquisitely detailed the way in which American governmental institutions bypassed international law in order to allow the creation of a policy that allowed torture. Bassiouni paints a striking portrait of the abuses and violations of international law by Bush's Administration, the way these actions strike at the heart of the American tradition, and the actions that must be taken to save America's collective conscience." - Prof. Karen Greenberg, Executive Director of the Center on Law and Security, NYU School of Law

This publication contains a survey of world conflicts that occurred between 1945 and 2008, the level of victimization they produced, and the subsequent post-conflict justice (PCJ) mechanisms which were applied. It shows the scope of the problem faced by international criminal justice (ICJ), and how the International Criminal Court (ICC) needs to shape its mission and approach to address ICJ needs and expectations. ICJ is no longer the utopian topic of only 40 years ago. After World War II, the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials were aimed at major offenders in leadership positions. Their prosecution and punishment, it was assumed, would have far reaching, deterring, and educational effects. Since 1948, however, some 310 conflicts have taken place resulting in an estimated 92 to 101 million people killed. In addition, an inestimable number of persons have been injured or have suffered psychological and material harm. Yet, for the most, perpetrators have benefited with impunity and escaped accountability. How can contemporary ICJ address such a volume of core international crimes which have generated so much victimization and material harm? Are the post-World War II assumptions still valid? Can national justice systems assume the primary task of prosecutions? What will the mission of the ICC become, and how will it acquit itself of it? These are issues which are identified within the International Guidelines on Post-Conflict Justice prepared during this project (herein referred to as the Chicago Principles). They are a set of comprehensive guidelines for how governments, international institutions, and others should respond to serious violations of human rights, as well as to promote peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict. They are also an indispensable strategy within which the ICC can best function. Can it then be assumed that the ICC is likely to achieve its mission in the years to come? This two volume set - which contains the proceedings of five regional conferences in Asia, Africa, the Arab World, Europe, and Central and South America, as well as a number of thematic studies dealing with post-conflict justice - should be most instructive to the ICC. These studies also assess various PCJ experiences as a means of determining the most appropriate policy responses in the context of a comprehensive strategy. M. Cherif Bassiouni, in April 2012, received the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award which is given by the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law to a distinguished scholar or practitioner who has made outstanding contributions to the field of international law.

There is no limit to the number of crimes--including acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, piracy, drug smuggling, governmental corruption and illegal intelligence gathering--committed by various national governments. In STATE CRIME, the volume editors gather together some of the best new research on state transgressions, in addition to asking senior scholars to reflect on their past research and bring it up to date.The first section of the book features a well-rounded set of cases exemplifying state criminality, including an examination of the Holocaust through a criminological framework, and a look at the illegal aggressions committed by the US army in Iraq. The second section of the book focuses on various methods for controlling these governmental transgressions, including domestic legal sanctions and also international enforcers such as the International Court of Human Rights. Contributors to this section of the book examine worldwide policies, such as the international rule against the assassination of regime elites regardless of the acts of aggression and criminality committed by them. The book taps into a previously overloked area that is most relevant for understanding what policies or responses to governmental crime would be most effective in constraining the worst acts. Contributors include leading scholars in criminology such as Ray Michalowski, David Friedrichs, and Peter Iadicola.

This innovative and important book applies classical Sunni Muslim legal and religious doctrine to contemporary issues surrounding armed conflict. In doing so it shows that the shari'a and Islamic law are not only compatible with contemporary international human rights law and international humanitarian law norms, but are appropriate for use in Muslim societies. By grounding contemporary post-conflict processes and procedures in classical Muslim legal and religious doctrine, it becomes more accessible to Muslim societies who are looking for appropriate legal mechanisms to deal with the aftermath of armed conflict. This book uniquely presents a critique of the violent practices of contemporary Muslims and Muslim clerics who support these practices. It rebuts Islamophobes in the West that discredit Islam on the basis of the abhorrent practices of some Muslims, and hopes to reduce tensions between Western and Islamic civilizations by enhancing common understanding of the issues.

M Cherif Bassiouni was a towering figure in international law. He was personally connected to some of the most historically relevant moments of the past century: the Suez War; the Camp David Accords; the fall of Muammar el-Qaddafi in Libya and the establishment of the International Criminal Court. A true global citizen - raised in Egypt, educated in Europe and emigrated to the United States - his life cut across cultures and religions. This fascinating memoir gives an immediate and personal eye-witness account of the operation of international events during a tumultuous period.

There is no limit to the number of crimes--including acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, piracy, drug smuggling, governmental corruption and illegal intelligence gathering--committed by various national governments. In STATE CRIME, the volume editors gather together some of the best new research on state transgressions, in addition to asking senior scholars to reflect on their past research and bring it up to date.The first section of the book features a well-rounded set of cases exemplifying state criminality, including an examination of the Holocaust through a criminological framework, and a look at the illegal aggressions committed by the US army in Iraq. The second section of the book focuses on various methods for controlling these governmental transgressions, including domestic legal sanctions and also international enforcers such as the International Court of Human Rights. Contributors to this section of the book examine worldwide policies, such as the international rule against the assassination of regime elites regardless of the acts of aggression and criminality committed by them. The book taps into a previously overloked area that is most relevant for understanding what policies or responses to governmental crime would be most effective in constraining the worst acts. Contributors include leading scholars in criminology such as Ray Michalowski, David Friedrichs, and Peter Iadicola.

This book is about the Egyptian people's 2011 Revolution for freedom, justice, and human dignity, and its aftermath. The Revolution succeeded in toppling the authoritarian Mubarak regime in less than three weeks. It was then co-opted by the Muslim Brotherhood through Egypt's first free and fair elections in 2012, which was in turn crushed in 2013 by a popularly supported military regime whose practices of repression negatively impacted the justice system and human rights. The problems facing the country and its people are daunting, particularly economic, demographic, and social pressures. The contextual analysis of these and other historic and contemporary issues give the reader a comprehensive understanding of what has occurred in the last five years and an insight into where the country is heading. Even though the Revolution has been suppressed and the promise of democracy shunted aside, the majority of the Egyptian people continue to hope for the unachieved dreams of social justice, human dignity, and freedom. Egypt's geopolitical importance makes it indispensable to the stability of the Middle East, and thus important to the world.

This book traces the evolution of crimes against humanity (CAH) and their application from the end of World War I to the present day, in terms of both historic legal analysis and subject-matter content. The first part of the book addresses general issues pertaining to the categorization of CAH in normative jurisprudential and doctrinal terms. This is followed by an analysis of the specific contents of CAH, describing its historic phases going through international criminal tribunals, mixed model tribunals, and the International Criminal Court. This includes both a normative and jurisprudential assessment as well as a review of doctrinal material commenting on all of the above. The book examines the general parts and defenses of the crime, along with the history and jurisprudence of both international and national prosecutions. For the first time, a list of all countries that have enacted national legislation specifically directed at CAH is collected, along with all of the national prosecutions that have occurred under national legislation up to 2010. The book constitutes a unique and comprehensive treatment of all legal and historical aspects pertaining to crimes against humanity in a single definitive volume.

Global Trends: Law, Policy & Justice is a Festschrift for Professor Giuliana Ziccardi Capaldo which offers a broad and challenging view of the changing world society and the implications of globalization for the content and structure of the law, the development of judicial institutions and the shaping of world policies. Contributions made by judges of international tribunals, scholars, and practitioners offers insights into different aspects of globalization and its implications on changes in the world system. It examines a variety of current issues relating to international law, judicial institutions and global policies, focusing on different aspects of globalization and its implications on key areas of the world system, with a particular focus on issues such as, human rights, global justice, global politics global environment and public goods.
This special edition of The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence presents not only a systemic approach to changes in the world system but gives us the outline of the future evolution of the role of law, justice and policy in tomorrow's increasingly globalized society. Global Trends: Law, Policy & Justice offers the advantage of simultaneously covering new insights into the meaning and function of the concept of globalization, combined with a thorough analysis of the evolutionary trends in key areas of the world system to provide a unified vision.
Global Trends: Law, Policy & Justice is a special edition of The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence, written in honor of Professor Giuliana Ziccardi Capaldo.

This book traces the evolution of crimes against humanity (CAH) and their application from the end of World War I to the present day, in terms of both historic legal analysis and subject-matter content. The first part of the book addresses general issues pertaining to the categorization of CAH in normative jurisprudential and doctrinal terms. This is followed by an analysis of the specific contents of CAH, describing its historic phases going through international criminal tribunals, mixed model tribunals, and the International Criminal Court. This includes both a normative and jurisprudential assessment as well as a review of doctrinal material commenting on all of the above. The book examines the general parts and defenses of the crime, along with the history and jurisprudence of both international and national prosecutions. For the first time, a list of all countries that have enacted national legislation specifically directed at CAH is collected, along with all of the national prosecutions that have occurred under national legislation up to 2010. The book constitutes a unique and comprehensive treatment of all legal and historical aspects pertaining to crimes against humanity in a single definitive volume.

This innovative and important book applies classical Sunni Muslim legal and religious doctrine to contemporary issues surrounding armed conflict. In doing so it shows that the shari'a and Islamic law are not only compatible with contemporary international human rights law and international humanitarian law norms, but are appropriate for use in Muslim societies. By grounding contemporary post-conflict processes and procedures in classical Muslim legal and religious doctrine, it becomes more accessible to Muslim societies who are looking for appropriate legal mechanisms to deal with the aftermath of armed conflict. This book uniquely presents a critique of the violent practices of contemporary Muslims and Muslim clerics who support these practices. It rebuts Islamophobes in the West that discredit Islam on the basis of the abhorrent practices of some Muslims, and hopes to reduce tensions between Western and Islamic civilizations by enhancing common understanding of the issues.