Navanethem Pillay... and the Nobel Prize

I was not surprised that Ms. Navanethem Pillay, former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, received the Nobel Peace Prize this year in recognition of her efforts to promote peace and strengthen respect for international law. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a South African citizen of Indian origin, she was the first non-white woman appointed to the South African Supreme Court. She also served as a judge at the International Criminal Court and had previously received awards and honors from several countries.

I watched an interview with her a few days ago on the Turkish channel broadcasting in Arabic, and I learned that she is a woman of sharp intellect who does not back down from her positions or judgments, which she issues only after thoroughly examining conclusive evidence.

Pillay chaired an independent international commission of inquiry, without imposing a fixed time limit on its mandate, to investigate all alleged violations and breaches of international law.

During the interview, Pillay commented on several issues related to the International Criminal Court, stating that receiving the prize was an honor for all victims of international crimes, after sixty years of contribution to international law and justice.

She said that the U.S. sanctions were a retaliatory measure announced hours after the Nobel Prize win, as America seeks to shield Israel from accountability for war crimes, as well as some of its soldiers involved. I personally verified every crime, despite the difficulties posed by Israel’s prohibition on investigators visiting the region.

She pointed out that the illegal Israeli occupation is the root of the conflict in Palestine, and that our investigations into the genocide in Gaza were highly precise, noting that Palestinians faced the risk of losing their lands through illegal means.

She praised President Erdogan’s call for reforming the UN Security Council, affirming that it is a demand backed by significant international support, with more than one country advocating for the reforms proposed by the Turkish president.

Netanyahu, along with the Israeli Defense Minister, are pursued under international law. Even if they are not tried for war crimes, the entire world is now echoing the narrative of their crimes alongside those of other members of the Israeli military, whereas previously this was confined to Arabs, Muslims, and a rare few from other countries. This global awareness has grown significantly following the events of the Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

Indeed, the world, along with the Nobel Committee, has awakened. They used the prize to uphold discipline and ethics by awarding it to those who deserve it, regardless of the circumstances and pressures from some major powers and their leaders, who have become eager to obtain the Nobel Prize.

The work of the special committee of the International Criminal Court was not simple or smooth; it was a difficult path full of obstacles. For instance, former ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan was officially suspended on July 24 last year following multiple accusations, and he recently received a verdict of acquittal to restore his reputation, at least morally, as the world recognizes that the charges were fabricated due to his hardline stance against the Zionist entity and its crimes.

We must not forget the honorable stance of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who faced significant harassment. She was threatened with the kidnapping of her young daughter from school and physical assault. Furthermore, her husband was dismissed from his job following her strong declaration regarding the crimes committed by the Israeli military against adults and children in Palestine.