Syrian Soldier Is Guilty of War Crime, a First in the 6-Year Conflict
- 7 years ago
Syrian Soldier Is Guilty of War Crime, a First in the 6-Year Conflict
Swedish investigators are pursuing cases against an additional 13 people suspected of war crimes committed in Syria,
and the German authorities are investigating 17 people suspected of crimes in Syria and Iraq, according to a Human Rights Watch report released on Tuesday.
As for the individual cases, Salma Kahale, a Syrian activist who works with families of torture
and detention victims, said, "For now, I see this as mainly symbolic, a continuation of our cry in the wilderness." Haid Haid, a Syrian analyst and author of a recent report on transitional justice efforts for the German research institute Heinrich Böll Stiftung, said advocates must readjust their goals and expectations given the political climate.
Europe did that the message it sends to both victims and their families and to regime officials that war criminals
While Sweden focuses on cases that have a Swedish connection — a suspect, victim or witness in Sweden
— Germany allows cases based on pure universal jurisdiction, with no national link required.
Yet the ruling, issued last week in Sweden, is a landmark event, legal experts
and human rights advocates say, the first conviction in any court of anyone from the Syrian government’s side for crimes committed in the multisided war.
Both countries are also carrying out broader investigations intended to document suspected crimes by military and prison systems, information
that is not linked to specific cases but could provide crucial context in some future, higher-level prosecution.
Swedish investigators are pursuing cases against an additional 13 people suspected of war crimes committed in Syria,
and the German authorities are investigating 17 people suspected of crimes in Syria and Iraq, according to a Human Rights Watch report released on Tuesday.
As for the individual cases, Salma Kahale, a Syrian activist who works with families of torture
and detention victims, said, "For now, I see this as mainly symbolic, a continuation of our cry in the wilderness." Haid Haid, a Syrian analyst and author of a recent report on transitional justice efforts for the German research institute Heinrich Böll Stiftung, said advocates must readjust their goals and expectations given the political climate.
Europe did that the message it sends to both victims and their families and to regime officials that war criminals
While Sweden focuses on cases that have a Swedish connection — a suspect, victim or witness in Sweden
— Germany allows cases based on pure universal jurisdiction, with no national link required.
Yet the ruling, issued last week in Sweden, is a landmark event, legal experts
and human rights advocates say, the first conviction in any court of anyone from the Syrian government’s side for crimes committed in the multisided war.
Both countries are also carrying out broader investigations intended to document suspected crimes by military and prison systems, information
that is not linked to specific cases but could provide crucial context in some future, higher-level prosecution.