Peace Through Law Review – September 2026
Peace Through Law Review – September 2026
Alberto Fierro Aldudo holds an LL.M. from Maastricht University, where he specialised in international criminal law. LinkedIn · X
This is the first issue of Peace Through Law Review, a monthly newsletter that compiles what has happened in international and hybrid criminal tribunals over the past month.
International Criminal Court
3 September 2026
On 3 September 2026, Trial Chamber VII of the ICC held the first status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri. The session focused on practical aspects of trial preparation, including the parties' use of evidence and witnesses, the disclosure obligations of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), and the start date of the trial.
On 13 September 2026, Trial Chamber VII scheduled the opening of the trial for 4 May 2027.
8 September 2026
On 8 September 2026, Trial Chamber I of the ICC held the hearing on reparations in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman. The Chamber heard arguments from the parties, the Registry, and amici curiae from various civil society organisations.
Following the hearing, on 17 September 2026, the Chamber requested further submissions from the parties and participants. It should be noted that both the Prosecutor and the Defence filed notices of appeal against the Trial Judgment in November 2025 and against the Sentence in January 2026, so the Appeals Chamber has yet to rule on the appeals.
16 September 2026
On 16 September 2026, Trial Chamber III of the ICC held the third status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The session focused on the disclosure of evidence by the OTP, the witnesses the parties plan to call, and the time they expect to need during the trial hearings.
On the same day, the Chamber issued its second decision on the review of detention, ruling that the former president of the Philippines shall remain in detention. In parallel, the parties have been submitting observations on the Panel of Experts' joint and individual reports regarding Mr Duterte's medical condition and fitness to stand trial. The Chamber has not yet reached a determination.
23 September 2026
On 23 September 2026, Trial Chamber VI issued its judgment in the case of The Prosecutor v. Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, finding the accused guilty of the crimes against humanity of imprisonment, torture, persecution and other inhumane acts committed in the Central African Republic in 2013.
The Chamber acquitted him of the war crimes of cruel treatment, torture and outrages upon personal dignity. It found, by majority, that the events in the CAR after March 2013 cannot be characterised as a non-international armed conflict and that, even if they could, Mr Said was not aware of the factual circumstances establishing the existence of an armed conflict at the time of the charged incidents.
On the same day, the Chamber issued a decision starting the sentencing procedure, stating that "it intends to proceed to sentencing as expeditiously as possible".
Kosovo Specialist Chambers
16 September 2026
On 16 September 2026, Trial Panel II of the KSC delivered the trial judgment in the case of The Prosecutor v. Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The four defendants were found guilty of the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture, and illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention committed between March 1998 and September 1999.
Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years.
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
3 September 2026
On 3 September 2026, the IRMCT handed over the remains of Mr Ratko Mladić to his recognised next of kin, following his death on 27 August 2026. His public funeral on 7 September 2026 in Belgrade, attended by senior Serbian officials and supported by the Serbian State, sparked condemnation.
25 September 2026
On 25 September 2026, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, acting as Single Judge, rejected the application for early release of Mr Jovica Stanišić, who is serving a sentence of 15 years of imprisonment in Germany for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
What is next?
On 1 October 2026, Trial Chamber V of the ICC will hold the hearing on reparations in the case of The Prosecutor v. Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona. The Chamber will hear submissions from the Common Legal Representatives of Victims, both Defence teams, the Prosecution, the Registry, the Trust Fund for Victims, the organisation ARC-EN-CIEL as amicus curiae, and the authorities of the Central African Republic.
On 13 October 2026, Trial Chamber III of the ICC will hold the fourth status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Announcements
Peace Through Law welcomes submissions to the articles section. Open to students, researchers, and practitioners working in international criminal law. If you want to write about ICL, IHL, recent judgments and decisions, analysis of developments at the ICC and other tribunals, or any other topic related to the scope of Peace Through Law, we are eager to hear your ideas.
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- Brief academic and professional background.
- Proposed topic for an article.
- Small outline of the structure of the article.