General Assembly (Legal)
MetMUNC XLIV
First Topic: Hostage Crises
Chairs: Amber Mirza and Prachi Udeshi
A hostage is an individual who has been captured and may be killed or severely injured
by a person or organization. A more serious situation can occur if a large number of people are
held hostage, as happened during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981. The Fourth Geneva
Convention bans the taking of hostages, listing it as a war crime. The International Criminal
Court claims any taking of hostages, whether during international or non-international violent
conflicts, is also a war crime.1 The International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages,
also known as the “Hostages Convention” served as a means to deal with the issue during the
1970s. Germany first proposed this convention after members of the German Embassy in
Sweden were taken hostage, in addition to other hostage situations that occurred during that time
period. The Geneva Convention already prohibited hostage taking, but this was the first
international effort that aimed to address hostage taking under conditions aside from armed
conflict. This new convention was relatively general, rather than discussing the typical hostage
situations described in documents such as the 1970 Hague Convention for the Suppression of
Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, and the 1971 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts
Against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
The General Assembly was quick to respond to Germany’s request with the formation of
the ad hoc committee that drafted and eventually passed a resolution. This resolution read:
Any person who seizes or detains and threatens to kill, to injure or to continue to
detain another person (hereinafter referred to as the “hostage”) in order to
compel a third party, namely, a State, an international intergovernmental
organization, a natural or juridical person, or a group of persons, to do or
abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of
the hostage …
Although this new resolution may have addressed the concerns of the 1970s, there is a need for
new methods to deal with the multitude of hostage issues that continue to occur.
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1
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https://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule96
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Hostage crises are clearly difficult situations to deal with. Governments and the UN must
always take the lives of innocent people into account when making the delicate decisions needed
to resolve such crises. One method of dealing with hostage situations is negotiating directly with
the terrorists, which often includes paying ransoms, a risky deal, as hostage takers are unreliable.
In the past, the United States (U.S.) has implemented strict no-ransoms, no-negotiations policies
with terrorists and hostage takers. If hostage takers demanded payment for the return of the
hostage, the U.S. would tell families that they could face criminal prosecution if they did pay the
ransom. Because of the emergence of new terrorist groups, such as The Islamic State (IS), that
are responsible for the new hostage crises cases, the U.S. has crafted a new presidential policy
direction and executive order as of 2015. This order permits the U.S. government to work in
collaboration with families of victims to discuss necessary information and even help
communication with the hostage takers. In addition, the current American administration is in the
process of forming a “fusion cell” consisting of FBI officials, The State Department, and the
Pentagon that would plan emergency responses in dire situations in order to free hostages. 2
Another critical government action in response to hostage crises is the deployment of
police forces. Following the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France, two hostage situations occurred
in eastern Paris. In response to both situations, the French government deployed police on roofs
and roads around the scene of the hostage taking. Additionally, the French Special Police Forces
utilized helicopters for a full field view of the area. The French armed forces also flew over the
scene. 3
NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, can play only marginal roles. An NGO
created specifically to deal with hostage situations does not currently exist.
Media coverage of hostage crises is often conflicting and can worsen a situation.
Recently, two terrorists from a Turkish Liberation Party imprisoned Mehmet Selim Kiraz, a
Turkish prosecutor. The terrorists murdered Kiraz as revenge for the death of a teen’s death
during anti-government protests. Because of the stance of the terrorists, the media took different
directions in covering the news, some framing the terrorist groups as moral. As a result, the
2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/06/23/u-s-government-will-stop-tellingfamilies-of-hostages-that-they-could-face-criminal-prosecution-for-paying-ransom/
3
http://www.businessinsider.com/hostage-situations-in-france-2015-1
Media Association, an NGO of Turkish journalists, sent out a statement urging the ban of some
media sources and their coverage of the hostage crisis.4
Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development, also known as NICCO,
has provided winter clothing, school supplies, and other forms of aid to Syrian refugees residing
in camps in Jordan. Unfortunately, the beheadings of helpless hostages by IS extremists5 have
raised criticisms that the NGO may be “overly involved” in a dangerous and deadly conflict. 6
Hostage crises do interrupt the work of NGOs coping with other austere matters. The efforts of
NGOs may decline or even fail if these constant issues continue.
In order to aid delegates in creating well-informed international policy to help deal with
future hostage crises across the world in a variety of situations, the following summaries of
infamous cases are provided.
Beslan school siege (2004)
Over a thousand people, approximately 700 of them children, were taken hostage by what
appeared to be Chechen militants in Beslan School. Popularly referred to as “Three Days of
Hell,” the attack occurred during the first three days of September.7 The attack began on
“Knowledge Day”, the first day of school in which children as well as their relatives enjoyed
ceremonies and activities presented by the school. Their ceremonies were abruptly interrupted
when belligerents from a forest encampment in Psedakh, west of Chechnya, arrived at the school
in a truck. Few people escaped before the attackers opened fire. About 300 were killed, and
many others injured, including police.
Over the span of the three days, the brutality and damage generated by the terrorists was
inexpressible. The terrorists imprisoned more than 1000 persons, scattered explosives around the
area, and barricaded exits. The terrorists utilized weapons such as explosive underwear, IEDs
and tripwires. Suicide bombers wore explosive belts and strapped bombs to basketball hoops in
the humid gym, where the majority of the hostages were kept.
4
http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/04/03/ngo-condemns-media-on-coverage-of-hostage-crisis
http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/04/03/ngo-condemns-media-on-coverage-of-hostage-crisis
6
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/26/national/hostage-crisis-puts-work-of-aid-groups-onnations-public-agenda/#.Vb5IhYs-BAY
5
7
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/world/europe/beslan-school-siege-fast-facts/
Hostages were not permitted to eat or drink, and the insurgents threatened to kill 50
hostages for every gunman killed, deterring any method the hostages could have used to escape.
The insurgents threatened to blow up the school if police entered the building. Authorities
offered medicine, food, and water for the hostages, but the insurgents were obstinate in their
stance. Authorities even offered to give themselves as hostages in exchange for the release of
those in schools, but the terrorists refused.
The Russian government did not establish contact with the hostage takers until the
evening of the first day. On the second day, President Vladimir Putin made a statement while just
over twenty people were freed. Authorities weren’t able to enter the school until the third day,
when they were permitted to remove the deceased bodies from the building. The siege
culminated when bombs exploded. The hostages rushed to escape the premises while the
militants attempted to shoot at them. Unfortunately, the gymnasium roof collapsed, leading to
hundreds of deaths. The Russian commandos took over the school and freed the remainder of the
hostages.
In 2006, the Russian parliamentary commission finally released a report on its
comprehensive investigation into the massacre, blaming Chechen guerillas entirely and
discharging Russian security forces from responsibility for any deaths.
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping (2014)
As reported by news outlets worldwide, the terrorist group Boko Haram trespassed onto
the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Nigeria in mid April. 276 schoolgirls were
kidnapped by truck. The town and girls are predominantly Christian. Following the kidnapping,
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lead the Bring
Back Our Girls campaign, including a twitter hash tag that trended in Nigeria and soon spread all
around the globe to be recognized by celebrities and political figures such as Michelle Obama.
This campaign spread awareness of the crisis and attracted the attention of world leaders. Boko
Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, created a video stating his distinguished role in the
kidnapping and a threat to sell the girls as slaves. On May 2nd 2014, the terrorist group released
a new video featuring about 100 of the missing girls, bragging about their conversions to Islam.
They offered to release them if the Nigerian government freed other Boko Haram militants from
jail. 8
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan discussed the crisis three weeks later on national
television, desperate to return the girls to safety. In order to impede the attacks of Boko Haram,
the Nigerian government has shut off cell phone service in the area where Boko Haram is
working to hinder their ability to coordinate attacks. Unintentionally, this made intelligence
gathering from phone calls impossible. Nigeria is currently developing infrastructure that would
enable them to maintain a fleet of Cobra helicopter and improve intelligence and assault
capabilities. A ceasefire was later announced between Boko Haram and Nigeria.
International aid was provided when groups of military advisors, negotiators, and
counselors from United Kingdom, France, and U.S. helped search for the girls. China, Israel,
Canada, Iran, and the European Union have also pledged to provide assistance.9
Some of the girls are believed to have escaped; funds have been provided for these girls
to return to school and receive an education. However, the issue is not put to rest, as other girls
remain under the possession of Boko Haram. In fact, other women were abducted by the same
terrorist group, one even claiming she was in the same house as the Chibok girls. The girls
coerced into joining Boko Haram have been forced to murder people, according to three women
who were kept captive. They are ordered to slit the throats of Christian men and forced to read
the Qur’an, and are slashed if they refuse or read incorrectly. A recent video released by Boko
Haram shows 130 of the girls reading the Qur’an. A girl who managed to escape from a Boko
Haram camp discussed meeting the Chibok girls, describing some of them as brainwashed by the
terrorists. It’s believed that 219 of
the girls are still trapped in the
brutality of Boko Haram and their
tactics. Sadly, newly elected
president Muhammadu Buhari is
skeptical on whether it is likely these
girls will be found.
8
9
http://time.com/3833024/chibok-boko-haram/
http://time.com/3833024/chibok-boko-haram/
Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)
One of the most infamous hostage crises is the Iran Hostage Crisis, as it tested serious
political boundaries. This crisis took place following the Iranian Islamic Revolution. During this
time, the Shah of Iran was considered a tyrant by the Iranian people, due to his reforms against
the traditional, established culture of Iran. He intended to modernize and westernize the country.
He was also unpopular because of his relationship with the United States. The United States had
a very good economic relationship with Iran because of the trade of oil in exchange for military
and economic aid. Iranians did not trust the autocratic Shah because he did not give the Iranian
people the reforms and changes that he had promised. Iran’s new leader encouraged the people
to protest outside of the American embassy against the Americans and Israelis.
On November 4th, 1979, over 500 Iranian students attacked the American Embassy and
captured at least 66
diplomats and American
citizens. Some of the
hostages escaped due to the
help of the neighboring
embassies, but 52 were still
held captive. The hostage takers wanted the Shah to
return to Iran to be put on
trial for the crimes
committed against his people. U.S. President Jimmy Carter immediately took action by expelling
a number of Iranians in the United States who had no part in the crime, ending all oil imports
from Iran, and prioritizing the hostages lives over any other objectives. In February of the
following year, Iran issued an offer in which the hostages would be released if the U.S. would
apologize for any damage that occurred due to interference in the country’s political and
economic affairs and promise to not get involved with future issues in Iran. President Carter
rejected this offer and ordered a secret plan in order to rescue the hostages called Operation
Eagle Claw. The plan backfired due to complications with the aircrafts in sandstorms and
crashes. After the death of the Shah and the attack on Iran by Iraq, the Iranians became more
willing to negotiate the Hostage Crisis. The hostages were eventually released on the day of
President Reagan’s inauguration with the help of Algerian officials. This crisis challenged the
governments of Iran and the United States; Canada, Sweden and Algeria were also involved in
negotiations. In this situation, President Carter took a more aggressive approach and tried to
make plans and deals that would immediately bring back the hostages.
It should be stressed that each country deals with its hostage crises according to that
nation’s policies and the current situation at hand. Those nations who wish to take action and
retrieve any hostages or help other nations retrieve hostages should be able to coordinate and
work with the international community. Those countries that do not wish to immediately take
action may provide resources to the countries that may need them. The international community
should also discuss any preventative measures in order to avoid these situations in the future.
These measures may save many people that could possibly end up in captivity.
Questions to Consider:
1. What is your state’s history of hostage crises? How did the government handle the
situation?
2. Is your state currently facing threats or actions from insurgents or terrorists that threaten
to take hostages?
3. What is your government’s policy towards hostage situations? Does the state tend to pay
ransom, negotiate, attempt armed retrieval, refuse to negotiate, or take another stance?
4. Does your state take preventative measures against possible hostage takers? Consider
these measures, and how could they be applied on an international scene?
5. Does your state take any measures to protect its citizens abroad? How does it do so?
6. How active is your government or populace in regards to providing international
assistance, military and/or humanitarian?
Helpful Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/world/middleeast/isis-threatens-kenji-goto-and-moaz-alkasabeh.html?_r=0
http://www.historyguy.com/iranus_hostage_crisis.htmlhttp://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Middleeastweb/factfile/Unique-facts-
MiddleEast9.htm
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1579SDGs%20Proposal.pdf
http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/226118
http://time.com/2809612/bowe-bergdahl-obama-taliban/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowe_Bergdahl
http://www.businessinsider.com/hostage-situations-in-france-2015-1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/23/u-s-government-will-stop-tellingfamilies-of-hostages-that-they-could-face-criminal-prosecution-for-paying-ransom/
http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/04/03/ngo-condemns-media-on-coverage-of-hostage-crisis
https://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule96
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/fullpage/inside-terrorist-hostage-negotiations-price-freedom-25114240
http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/icath/icath.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/world/europe/beslan-school-siege-fast-facts/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/27/AR2005082701157_pf.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20060721081627/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/
wosse105.xml
http://www.rt.com/news/183964-beslan-school-hostage-crisis/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/26/national/hostage-crisis-puts-work-of-aid-groups-on-nations-publicagenda/#.Vb5IhYs-BAY
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2739729/The-Beslan-survivors-decade-hell-Ten-years-horrific-schoolsiege-children-caught-suffering-five-case-studies.html
http://time.com/3833024/chibok-boko-haram/ (has a video
http://www.aworldatschool.org/news/entry/chibok-schoolgirls-forced-to-join-boko-haram-and-even-kill-saysreport-2079
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/29/schoolgirls-kidnapped-boko-haram-brainwashed-fight-group
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkish-prosecutor-mehmet-selim-kiraz-held-hostageby-armed-militants-over-protest-death-10146286.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/17/chibok-girls-school_n_6664316.html