Taliban targeted, killed Danish Siddiqui: Photojournalist’s parents initiate legal action over ‘war crime’
India Today
Calling Danish Siddiqui’s killing a “war crime”, the slain photojournalist’s parents have initiated legal action against the Taliban in the International Criminal Court.
The parents of slain Indian photojouralist Danish Siddiqui have accused the Taliban of committing "war crimes" and have filed a petition against them in the International Criminal Court. Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering a clash between the Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city last July.
Danish Siddiqui’s parents, Akhtar Siddiqui and Shahida Akhtar, have filed a complaint against leaders and high level commanders of the Taliban, including Hibatullah Akhundzada, Supreme Commander of the Taliban, Hassan Akhund, head of the Taliban Leadership Council, Abdul Ghani Baradar, chief spokesperson and head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, Zabbihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, and local commanders as well as perpetrators.
Danish Siddiqui’s parents claimed that the photojournalist was tortured and killed and his body was mutilated.
“On 16th July, 2021, Danish Siddiqui was embedded by Reuters with the Afghan Special Forces in Spin Boldak, where he was injured in an attack by the Taliban. He was taken to a mosque for medical treatment. The mosque was attacked by the Taliban, and Danish was taken into custody, tortured, and murderedAfter his killing, his body was mutilated, including being run over by a heavy vehicle in public. His body revealed marks of brutal torture and 12 bullets entry and exit points. These were received after his capture, as his bullet proof jacket has no bullet marks,” the petition filed before the ICC states.
Lawyer Avi Singh, who will represent the family in the case, said, “No crime should go unpunished. The Taliban targeted and killed Danish because he was a journalist and an Indian. This is an international crime. In the absence of rule of law in Afghanistan, the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate and try the perpetrators of Danish’s murder.”
“As the Taliban strives for international legitimacy, it must face accountability for its past actions,” Avi Singh stated.
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