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History in Germany: Former Syrian officer sent to prison for crimes against humanity
In the first conviction in the world since the outbreak of the war a decade ago, Iyad al-Graib was convicted of transferring detainees to a facility where he knew they would be tortured.
His lawyers sought to make him a witness against the regime.
The trial of another officer, accused of 58 murders, continues.
"An important step on the road to justice for those responsible for torture"
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Germany
Syria
Crimes against humanity
Reuters
Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 12:14 p.m.
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Two former Syrian intelligence officials on trial in Germany (Photo: Reuters)
A German court today (Wednesday) sentenced a former Syrian intelligence agent to four and a half years in prison for involvement in torturing civilians.
This is the first conviction for crimes against humanity committed during the Syrian civil war that broke out a decade ago.
The district court in the western German city of Koblenz has ruled that Iyad al-Grave, 43, arrested at least 30 opposition activists after a demonstration against her by ruler Bashar Assad in 2011 and transferred them to an intelligence facility even though he knew detainees were being tortured.
He arrived in Germany in April 2018. Al-Grave's lawyers wanted to acquit him.
They said he stopped the protesters under pressure from his superiors.
He asked the court to consider him as a witness against the Syrian government in a broader legal process.
Some 800,000 Syrians living in Germany and human rights activists see the trial as an important milestone for doing justice to thousands of Syrian citizens.
This is after the attempts of Western countries to establish an international tribunal failed due to the opposition of Russia and China, allies of Syria.
Syria is also not a signatory to the Treaty of Rome, on the basis of which the International Criminal Court was established in The Hague.
"This is an important step on the way to a process that will ensure justice for those in the Syrian government who are responsible for the systematic use of torture against civilians," said Steve Costes, a lawyer from a human rights organization representing Syrian victims.
The Assad regime denies torturing prisoners.
The Assad regime denies torturing prisoners.
Iyad A. in court, today (Photo: Reuters)
In the same court, the hearings continue in the case of a second intelligence officer, Anwar R., the senior between the two.
He is charged with 58 murders in a prison in Damascus, where some 4,000 opposition activists were tortured between 2011 and 2012.
The prosecution says it oversaw investigations before leaving Syria in 2012.
Anwar is also charged with rape and sexual assault.
He arrived in Germany in 2014.
Two former intelligence officers are being prosecuted under universal laws, which allow a prosecution in Germany to prosecute war crimes perpetrators around the world.
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