Curtis Doebbler
Encyclopedia
Dr. Curtis F.J. Doebbler is an international human rights lawyer who since 1988 has been representing individuals before international human rights bodies in Africa, Europe, the Americas and before United Nations bodies. He is also an American lawyer authorized to practice before the courts of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, United States
.
Doebbler was born in 1961 in Buffalo, New York, and has American and Dutch nationality.
He is known for his outspoken opposition to human rights violations by the U.S. government and his support of individuals in countries that have been subject to armed attacks by the United States. He has worked almost two decades in Africa, Asia and the Middle East teaching international human rights law and representing individuals in human rights cases.
In the case of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
, Doebbler argued before the Iraqi Special Tribunal that the court was illegal and did not respect human rights.
More recently he has made representations before the UN Human Rights Council calling for it to end its selective punishment of human rights violators and to especially take steps against powerful countries when they violate human rights.
He has advised the Palestinian National Authority
and the Hamas
government.
from London School of Economics
, London, UK (he was supervised by Judge Rosalyn Higgins
); a Degree of Masters of Law (LL.M./meesterstitel) from Radboud University Nijmegen
(previously known as Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen or Nijmegen Universiteit), Nijmegen, NL; a J.D. from New York Law School
, New York City, New York, USA (where he studied under Professors Myres MacDougal and Lung-Chu Chen); and Bachelors of Arts in English literature and of Fine Arts in Journalism from Southern Methodist University
, Dallas, Texas, USA. He also holds a diploma of the Hague Academy of International Law
awarded in 2000.
, Khartoum University, Pristina University, Tuzla University, The American University in Cairo, Webster University
Geneva, and Tashkent State Institute of Law
. Since 2004 he has been a professor of law (visiting) at An-Najah National University
.
His clients have included several sitting and former heads of state, an estimated 2.5 million internally displaced persons in Sudan, an estimated 15,000 Ethiopian refugees, and numerous other individuals and groups.
and to the online legal forum JURIST
.
was a violation of international law. He writes that "any US claims of justification in a situation involving the taking of life requires that the US prove that it acted out of necessity or some other legal justification. Not only has the US failed to provide such proof, it has destroyed the best evidence —the body of the very victim. The US actions concerning Osama Bin Laden’s body look merely like the work of criminals trying to dispose of the evidence of their crime."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Doebbler was born in 1961 in Buffalo, New York, and has American and Dutch nationality.
He is known for his outspoken opposition to human rights violations by the U.S. government and his support of individuals in countries that have been subject to armed attacks by the United States. He has worked almost two decades in Africa, Asia and the Middle East teaching international human rights law and representing individuals in human rights cases.
In the case of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, Doebbler argued before the Iraqi Special Tribunal that the court was illegal and did not respect human rights.
More recently he has made representations before the UN Human Rights Council calling for it to end its selective punishment of human rights violators and to especially take steps against powerful countries when they violate human rights.
He has advised the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
and the Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
government.
Education
Doebbler has degrees from four universities. His university degrees include a Ph.D. in International LawInternational law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
from London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, London, UK (he was supervised by Judge Rosalyn Higgins
Rosalyn Higgins
Dame Rosalyn Higgins, DBE, QC is the former President of the International Court of Justice. Higgins was the first female judge to be appointed to the ICJ, and was elected President in 2006. Her term of office expired on 6 February 2009...
); a Degree of Masters of Law (LL.M./meesterstitel) from Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university with a strong focus on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands...
(previously known as Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen or Nijmegen Universiteit), Nijmegen, NL; a J.D. from New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
, New York City, New York, USA (where he studied under Professors Myres MacDougal and Lung-Chu Chen); and Bachelors of Arts in English literature and of Fine Arts in Journalism from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, Dallas, Texas, USA. He also holds a diploma of the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
awarded in 2000.
Career
Doebbler has taught law at London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, Khartoum University, Pristina University, Tuzla University, The American University in Cairo, Webster University
Webster University
Webster University is an American non-profit private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
Geneva, and Tashkent State Institute of Law
Tashkent State Institute of Law
Tashkent State Institute of Law is a public law school in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.-History:Tashkent State Institute of Law was created in 1991 after having been the department of law of the University of Tashkent....
. Since 2004 he has been a professor of law (visiting) at An-Najah National University
An-Najah National University
An-Najah National University is a Palestinian non-governmental public university governed by a board of Trustees. It is located in Nablus, in the northern West Bank. The university has over 16,500 students and 300 professors in 19 faculties...
.
His clients have included several sitting and former heads of state, an estimated 2.5 million internally displaced persons in Sudan, an estimated 15,000 Ethiopian refugees, and numerous other individuals and groups.
Writing
Doebbler has published numerous articles in academic journals and newspapers. His latest books include "The Principle of Non-Discrimination under International Law" (2007), "International Human Rights Law: Cases and Materials" (2004); "ИЗУЧЕНИЕ МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ ПРАВ ЧЕЛОВЕКА" (2004); "An Introduction to International Humanitarian Law" (2006); "An Introduction to International Human Rights Law" (2006); and "International Criminal Law" (2007). Doebbler has also been a regular contributor to the Egyptian newspaper Al-AhramAl-Ahram
Al-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
and to the online legal forum JURIST
JURIST
JURIST is an online legal news service hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, powered by a staff of more than 40 law students working in Pittsburgh and other US locations under the direction of founding Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Professor Bernard Hibbitts, Research Director Jaclyn...
.
Views on killing Osama Bin Laden
Doebbler believes that the United States' killing of Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
was a violation of international law. He writes that "any US claims of justification in a situation involving the taking of life requires that the US prove that it acted out of necessity or some other legal justification. Not only has the US failed to provide such proof, it has destroyed the best evidence —the body of the very victim. The US actions concerning Osama Bin Laden’s body look merely like the work of criminals trying to dispose of the evidence of their crime."
In the news
- JURIST, Saddam lawyer condemns execution as 'aggressor's injustice' (30 December 2006)
- CTV, Report: Saddam expected to be hanged this weekend (28 December 2006)
- CBS News, "American Lawyer Criticizes Saddam Court" (12 June 2006)
- ABC News, "American Lawyer Criticizes Saddam Court" (12 June 2006)
- BBC, "Anger Erupts in Saddam Courtroom" (12 June 2006)
- The Nation, "Saddam's US lawyer denounces court as trial resumes" (12 June 2006)
- CBS News, "American: Saddam Legal Team Denied Rights" (10 April 2006)
- American Free Press, "Saddam Lawyers Sabotaged" (15 October 2005)
- Associated Press, "Surprise Predicted for Saddam Trial" (22 December 2005)
- Village Voice, "Saddam Hussein's Lawyer Aims for Bush" (21 December 2004)
- St. Petersburg Times, "Hussein's defender: All deserve due process" (6 December 2004)
- CNN, "Saddam's sole American lawyer defends his choice of clients (27 May 2004)
- Crimes of War Project POW's or Unlawful Combatants (January 2002)