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A Syrian activist with pictures of Syrian civil war victims before the Koblenz Higher Regional Court
Photo: BERND LAUTER / AFP
The judgment of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Koblenz in the process of state torture in Syria met with much applause.
Human rights organizations welcome the guilty verdict against Syrian Anwar Raslan for torturing at least 4,000 people in a state prison in Damascus, murder in 27 and dangerous assault in 25 cases.
The head of
Human Rights Watch
, Kenneth Roth, told journalists in Geneva: "This is really historic." The verdict is "a significant moment for civilians who have survived torture and sexual abuse in Syrian prisons," the organization said .
Federal Justice Minister
Marco Buschmann (FDP)
recommended the judgment as a model for criminal prosecution in other countries.
"I would appreciate it if other constitutional states follow this example," said Buschmann.
"Anyone who has committed crimes against humanity must not find safe retreats anywhere." The pioneering work of the Koblenz court deserves to be "recognized worldwide".
The
German Association of Judges (DRB)
also attaches great importance to the judgment of the OLG Koblenz.
The decision "sends the important signal to the perpetrators and their victims: war criminals must expect prosecution in Germany," said DRB Federal Managing Director Sven Rebehn.
Signal "in the global fight against impunity"
The court decision is an important signal "in the global fight against impunity", said Markus N. Beeko, Secretary General of
Amnesty International in Germany
.
Amnesty now expects "that in Germany and in other countries, building on this knowledge, further processes will be initiated in accordance with the principle of universal law."
Wolfgang Kaleck, Secretary General of the
European Center for Consitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
, which, together with partner lawyers, had supported 14 co-plaintiffs in the process, stated in a statement: »Despite all the deficits in international criminal justice, the conviction of Anwar R. what the principle of world law can achieve - and that such processes can be carried out in Germany and Europe «.
The trial against Raslan began 108 days ago in April 2020 and caused a stir internationally.
More than 80 witnesses were summoned, and a number of victims of torture appeared as co-plaintiffs.
It is the first case of this kind in which an actor in the Syrian civil war had to answer for his actions.
The fact that the process was conducted in Germany is due to the so-called world law principle in international criminal law.
Accordingly, acts may also be negotiated in this country that are not directly related to Germany.
The convicted Raslan was recognized by victims of torture after his escape to Germany and was finally caught by the authorities.
fek / dpa / AFP
