The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, has requested an international arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, for crimes against humanity against the Rohingya minority, Al Jazeera reports.
The request, announced Wednesday, alleges that Hlaing bears responsibility for the deportation and persecution of the Rohingya during the brutal 2016-17 crackdown in Rakhine state.
The ICC investigation, spanning five years, details widespread atrocities including killings, torture, rape, and arson, which forced at least 700,000 Rohingya to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. The prosecutor’s office stated that Hlaing’s actions constitute crimes against humanity, committed both within Myanmar and partially in Bangladesh.
Khan, speaking from a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, emphasized the ICC’s commitment to upholding the rights of the Rohingya community and their hope for justice. He hinted at further actions, stating, “more will follow.”
The ICC judges will now review the application, a process expected to take several months. Myanmar’s military government has yet to comment on the request. This marks the first ICC arrest warrant application against a high-ranking Myanmar official.
The move comes amidst ongoing turmoil in Myanmar following the 2021 coup. Armed factions fighting the military regime have gained ground, particularly near the Chinese border, creating tension with Beijing, a major arms supplier and Myanmar’s largest trading partner. Min Aung Hlaing’s recent visit to China, his first since seizing power, reportedly did little to ease Beijing’s concerns over instability and criminality.
The UN previously found the military campaign against the Rohingya to have been carried out with “genocidal intent,” a claim Myanmar denies. Separately, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is already hearing a case against Myanmar, brought by Gambia, concerning genocide against the Rohingya. Five European nations and Canada have joined this ICJ case.
