CHAPTER 118—WAR CRIMES

§ 2441. War crimes

(d) (1) (I) TAKING HOSTAGES.—The act of a person who, having knowingly seized or detained one or more persons, threatens to kill, injure, or continue to detain such person or persons with the intent of compelling any nation, person other than the hostage, or group of persons to act or refrain from act-ing as an explicit or implicit condition for the safety or release of such person or persons.

Article 8
War crimes
2. For the purpose of this Statute, "war crimes" means:
(c) In the case of an armed conflict not of an international character, serious violations of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause:
(iii) Taking of hostages