Opening Statement and presentation of evidence by the Legal Representatives of Victims in the Abd-Al-Rahman case: Practical information

On 5 June 2023 at 11:30 (Hague time), the common Legal Representatives of Victims ("LRV") in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman ("Ali Kushayb") will make their opening statement before Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Counsel Natalie von Wistinghausen and Associate Counsel Anand Shah are representing 600 victims in this case. Their statement will be made in open session and is expected to last one hour.

Legal representation of the victims allows them to present their views and concerns to the ICC judges when their interests are affected. Victims may also present evidence. The LRV will make an opening statement and will call one witness and four participating victims to provide their views and concerns viva voce before the Chamber. 

Background: Mr Abd-Al-Rahman is accused of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and at least April 2004. The trial in this case opened before Trial Chamber I on 5 April 2022. 56 witnesses appeared in the courtroom during the presentation of the Prosecution’s case and the Prosecution has finished presenting its evidence. The Defence is scheduled to make opening statements and start presenting its case on 28 August 2023. Trial Chamber I is composed of Judge Joanna Korner, Presiding Judge, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou and Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor.

Webstreaming of the hearing:
The hearing can be followed with a 30 minute-delay on the ICC website, in English, French and Arabic (Courtroom 2), in Arabic on the ICC YouTube Channel and in English and French on the ICC Facebook accounts.

Attending the hearing:

• Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public can request attendance via email to: [email protected] before 2 June 2023. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
• Journalists wishing to cover the hearing can request accreditation via email to: [email protected] before 2 June 2023. All journalists must present a valid press card, and a valid passport or valid ID with a photo, at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).

Individuals who have not received a confirmation in advance of the hearing will not be granted access to the building. Those attending are advised to arrive 20 minutes in advance before the hearing starts.

Audio-visual materials:
Images of the hearing will be available for download in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format, and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel. For information on audio-visual matters, please contact [email protected]

For further information on this case, check here

Related documents:

• Questions and Answers on opening of the trial: English, Arabic
• Case information sheet: English, French
• Corrected version of 'Decision on the confirmation of charges against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman ('Ali Kushayb')', 9 July 2021, ICC-02/05-01/20-433
• Directions on the conduct of proceedings
• Second Directions on the Conduct of Proceedings 
• Decision on the Common Legal Representatives for Victims’ request to present evidence and views and concerns
• Public Redacted Version of “Second Corrigendum to ‘Common Legal Representative of Victims’ Trial Brief’, 31 March 2023 (ICC-02/05-01/20-914-Conf-Exp)”, 5 April 2023 (ICC-02/05-01/20-914-Conf-Exp-Corr2)
   

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

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