UN Experts: Trump’s Blackwater Pardons Are Illegal

Reuters reports:

U.S. President Donald Trump’s pardon of four American men convicted of killing Iraqi civilians while working as contractors in 2007 violated U.S. obligations under international law, U.N. human rights experts said on Wednesday.

The Geneva Conventions oblige states to hold war criminals accountable for their crimes, even when they act as private security contractors, the U.N. experts said.

“These pardons violate U.S. obligations under international law and more broadly undermine humanitarian law and human rights at a global level.”

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#Trump pardon of #Blackwater contractors in #Iraq “massacre” violates international law – UN experts https://t.co/NFtnl67dwY – my take #POTUS #GenevaConventions

— Stephanie Nebehay (@StephNebehay) December 30, 2020

“Pardoning the Blackwater contractors is an affront to justice and to the victims of the Nisour Square massacre and their families,” Jelena Aparac, chair of the UN working group on the use of mercenaries, said in a statement.https://t.co/KsISS9SFcB

— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 30, 2020