What instruments of international law are applicable in the case of assassinated academics?
Principal relevant instruments include The Fourth Geneva Convention (regarded as a foundation of international humanitarian law), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 6 and also Articles 2, 4 and 26) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 3 and 2), wherein the right to life shall be protected by law and guaranteed without distinction or discrimination. The puppet Iraqi government and the US and members of Multi-National Force-Iraq are legally subject to these conventions. Further, Article 4, paragraph 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that exceptional circumstances such as internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked to justify any derogation from the right to life and security of the person. Principle 4 of the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, adopted by the Economic and Social Council in its res
