Despite making its stance clear, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Amnesty International have asked India to arrest the controversial Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who will be visiting the country on 28 October to attend the India-Africa summit.
Sudanese President Bashir is the only sitting political head of a country to have been charged by ICC.Bashir is accused of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Darfur to crush a revolt in the region.
The ICC tribunal based in Hague issued warrants for his arrest in 2009 and 2010. The 71-year-old president is to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend an India-Africa Summit along with 41 other African leaders.
The office of ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told Reuters that even though India is not an ICC signatory, it was obliged to act as a UN Security Council resolution had lifted Bashir's immunity under international law and urged all member states to cooperate with ICC.
"By arresting and surrendering ICC suspects, India can contribute to the important goal of ending impunity for the world's worst crimes," Bensouda's office told Reuters on Monday.
Amnesty also has urged India "not [to] turn a blind eye" on the charges against the Sudanese president.
"As a country which aspires to a more prominent global position, India must not turn a blind eye to these charges," Executive Director of Amnesty International India, Aakar Patel said in an official statement.
Instead, it should show "true leadership" by assisting in bringing Omar al-Bashir to trial, Patel added.
