Reflections on a Judgment in Re: Accessory in Using of Chemical Weapons by Iraqi Regime

The Hague Court of appeal issued its judgment against Frans Van Anraat on May 9th 2007 in Re "Victims of Chemical Weapons". The defendant was a Dutch national who was an accessory to the violation of the laws of war by Iraqi rulers through supplying them considerable quantities of raw materials for the production of mustard gas during a period of 8 years beginning from 1980. The appeal court sentenced the defendant to a 17 years term of imprisonment and payment of nominal compensation to injured plaintiffs. In this judgment the use of chemical weapons by Iraqi forces was established for the first time, by an independent Forum. It appears that the findings of this court may lead to a further investigation of the core of the matter of the violation of the International Humanitarian Law.