Peace- and women’s rights activist Tawakkol Karman has criticized an initiative that is expected to be announced by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to resolve the conflict in the country,

believing that an initiative of this kind would sacrifice justice for peace and be contrary to the United Nations Charter.

“It is said that your initiative sacrifices justice, turns a blind eye to the perpetrators of massacres and grants murders and criminals immunity from accountability,” the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate wrote on social media.  

Karman pointed out that such an initiative would be contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights.

From Karman’s point of view, this initiative would allow the recurrence of crimes and tempt the killers to commit crimes, which are more terrible, in the very near future. 

“Perpetrators will find that they could escape the consequences, walk the streets with impunity and be introduced as political parties, advocates of dialogue and peace makers rather than as perpetrators of massacres against humanity, who should be prosecuted,” she explained. 

“Justice is a road to peace, and whoever sacrifices justice for peace loses justice and peace alike.”

The Nobel Laureate emphasized that there is no peace without justice, indicating that this fact has been proved by all experiences, and is also emphasized by all charters and covenants.”

Mrs. Karman concluded by expressing confidence that the UN envoy will represent the voice of the oppressed and the human conscience that is biased in favour of victims but not murders and criminals.