Chapter 6
In: Sights, Sounds, and Sensibilities of Atrocity Prosecutions
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Abstract
Dead bodies smell. The smell of death consists of over 400 different chemical compounds, produced by bacteria, which decompose the body tissue into gases and salts. Research from biology and psychology has analysed how human remains smell differently than animal carcasses. The human brain registers the stench as a threat, which can trigger hostility and disgust toward an out-group, thereby unconsciously influencing psychological and physiological operations. This chapter examines the olfactory of genocide in cases from Rwanda where, within three months, 800,000 people were killed. Human remains were abandoned in streets, churches, schools, and swamps. The amplitude of the killing sprees precluded proper burials, which meant that bodies decomposed in the tropical heat. This chapter adds insights into the way in which witnesses in international criminal proceedings describe the smell of genocide. The stench of death adds a sensory layer to broader invocations of cruelty. This chapter specifically explores three aspects: (1) how do witnesses describe their sensory experiences?; (2) how is stench dealt with by the prosecution and judges?; and (3) how does smell potentially influence (or imperil) reconciliation between hostile groups?