JEM leader meets Chief Justice to discuss special court for Darfur

The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Jibril Ibrahim, called for the formation of a Special Court for Crimes Committed in Darfur during a meeting with Chief Justice, Nemat Abdallah Kheir, in Khartoum yesterday.

He also called for more women to be appointed as judges in this court so that cases of gender-based violence are dealt with fairly “in this critical stage” of the transitional period. He also affirmed his confidence in the judiciary system and recognised its importance and historical role in achieving justice.

Ibrahim further explained that JEM intends to end the conflicts and contribute to the development and reform of judicial institutions in order to achieve justice, among other things by lifting the impunity enjoyed by military officers and many perpetrators of violence.

Chief Justice Nemat Abdallah Kheir welcomed the head of the JEM and his accompanying delegation and thanked them for their visit and their support for the judiciary. She stressed that the current period of democratic transition requires cooperation and solidarity to create and ensure ‘safety’ and achieve the goals of the revolution.

She emphasised the commitment of the judiciary to implement measures that will provide these essential elements and achieve justice.

The establishment of the Special Court for Crimes in Darfur has been a controversial issue. Such a court existed under the previous dictatorship, but it was said that the Darfur Courts were established by the government “in order to demolish the Darfur issue through the trial of innocent Darfuris, including displaced people and activists. Not to achieve justice in Darfur”.

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