Creating Domestic Legal Frameworks on International Crimes: Case Studies of France, Iraq, United Kingdom and United States

Abstract

International crimes are behaviors that impede human dignity (such as genocide, crime against humanity or war crimes) and the world peace (such as crime of aggression). Of course, the physical elements of most international crimes (particularly, genocide, crime against humanity and war crimes) overlap with each other, as they especially consist of unlawful acts of: killing, extermination, causing body injuries, forcible deportation, torturing, hostage taking, serious sexual violence, persecution, deprivation of liberty, enforced disappearances, and other inhuman acts. This research study aims at analyzing the domestic legal framework on international crimes in France, Iraq, United Kingdom (UK), and United States (US). The analysis principally emphasizes on the legal definition of genocide, crime against humanity, war crimes and crime of aggression under national laws; the applicable penalties against the offenders; and the domestic judicial practices. Considering that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not yet ratified some key international provisions prohibiting the above-mentioned offenses nor did it adopt any comprehensive legislation criminalizing those serious violations, the research concludes with some recommendations formulated for the attention of the Saudi authorities.