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Iraq

Tikrit Massacre / Ahmed E. A. [CASE DISMISSED]

Type of liability
Personne physique

Alleged perpetrator(s)
Ahmed E. A.

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Iraqi

Legal classification of crime(s)
Premeditated murders in connection with a terrorist enterprise
Terrorist criminal conspiracy to commit crimes against persons
War crimes involving violence to life
War crimes involving inhuman and degrading treatment
War crimes through the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare and participation in a group formed with a view to preparing war crimes.

Source of the complaint
Public Prosecutor's Office

Ongoing proceedings
oui

Regime
3 - 689 - 11 CPP

Summary of facts

On June 12 and 13, 2014, the Islamic State (IS) allegedly executed nearly 1,700 people, mostly Shiites, at Speicher Air Base, near Tikrit in Iraq. Ahmed E. A. allegedly administered the Samarra region on behalf of IS and was allegedly involved in this massacre. Having arrived in France in the summer of 2016, Ahmed E. A. was granted refugee status in June 2017. This protection was withdrawn after his arrest.

Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Legal proceedings

<p>In 2017: Interpol issues a Red Notice against Ahmed E. A. following an investigation opened by the Iraqi authorities.<br />
November 6, 2017: a judicial investigation is opened and assigned jointly to the counter-terrorism investigating judges and to the judges of the “crimes against humanity, war crimes and war offenses” unit.<br />
March 5, 2018: Ahmed E. A. is arrested in Lisieux (Calvados).<br />
March 9, 2018: Ahmed E. A. is indicted for “premeditated murders in connection with a terrorist enterprise”, “terrorist criminal conspiracy to commit crimes against persons”, “war crimes involving violence to life”, “war crimes involving inhuman and degrading treatment”, and “war crimes through the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare and participation in a group formed with a view to preparing war crimes”, and is placed in pre-trial detention.<br />
In May 2020: due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he is released and placed under judicial supervision, and flees to Germany.<br />
August 13, 2020: following an extradition procedure, he is handed over to France and again placed in pre-trial detention.<br />
May 28, 2025: a dismissal order is issued.</p>

Legal issues

Cumulative charges (terrorism and international crimes)

Complaint

non

Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)

689-11 CCP

Sources

Libération, « Qui est Ahmed H., cet Irakien arrêté par la DGSI en mars ? », 2018

Le Figaro, « Le réfugié irakien arrêté en France aurait participé à des massacres », 2018

Le Point, « Réfugié irakien arrêté: son avocat dénonce une "injustice", le décrit en adversaire de l'EI », 2018

Libération, « En France, un suspect de crimes de guerre a pu passer le filtre de l’asile », 2019

Le Monde, « En Irak, les enquêteurs de l’ONU sur les traces des crimes de masse de l’organisation Etat islamique », 2021

TRIAL International, « Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2021 », 2022

RIAL International, « Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2026 »