Iraq asks UN to collect evidence to prosecute Islamic State

Iraq is asking the UN Security Council for assistance in collecting evidence to prosecute extremists from the Islamic State group for possible crimes against humanity.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari says in a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres circulated today that his government and the United Kingdom are working on a draft Security Council resolution seeking assistance.

It was sent more than five months after human rights lawyer Amal Clooney urged Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to send a letter so the council can set up an investigation into crimes by the extremist group. The wife of actor George Clooney said the world’s nations must not let IS “get away with genocide.”

Al-Jaafari says the crimes committed by IS make it important to bring the perpetrators to justice.

— AP