Photographs and videos of abuses attributed to the Syrian regime in Tadamon, near Damascus, in 2013, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are being used by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (Pnat), he said on Wednesday August 17, requested by AFP.
During a press briefing on Friday, the Quai d'Orsay announced that it had received "
significant documentation relating to possible crimes committed by the forces of the Syrian regime
".
“
These documents, made up in particular of numerous photographs and videos, report on atrocities committed by pro-regime forces during the Tadamon massacre in Damascus in 2013. Several dozen civilians were reportedly killed during these abuses
,” the ministry said.
The elements were able to be collected thanks to the “
determined work of several human rights defenders
”, it was recalled, praising their “
courage
”.
Read alsoSeventeen dead in a Turkish strike in northern Syria
According to the Quai d'Orsay, "
the facts alleged are likely to constitute the most serious international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity and war crimes
", crimes for which French justice has universal jurisdiction.
The files were transmitted to the Pnat in application of article 40 of the code of criminal procedure, which requires any authority having knowledge of a crime or misdemeanor to report it to the courts.
The documents are currently being used to determine if they "
fit into the ongoing investigations or if they require the opening of a new investigation
“, indicated the Pnat.
Several preliminary investigations and judicial inquiries into accusations of abuse, attributed to the Syrian regime or rebel groups, are underway at the crimes against humanity section of the Paris judicial court.
In late April, the British daily
The Guardian
and the New Lines Institute in Washington published articles and videos revealing the execution of dozens of people by regime forces in al-Tadamon.
In one of the videos, filmed in April 2013, a member of the regime forces in military uniform orders men, blindfolded and with their hands tied, to run towards a mass grave.
The men are executed one by one before falling into the pit.
The bodies were then cremated.
"
After a decade of crimes committed against the Syrian people, France remains fully mobilized to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions before the courts
", said the Quai d'Orsay, considering that "
the fight against impunity is a question justice for victims
and “
an essential condition for building a lasting peace in Syria
”.
Since 2011, the conflict has left around half a million dead and millions displaced and refugees.