Convicted of Torture and Rape.. Dutch Court Sentences Assad Loyalist Leader to 26 Years in Prison

SadaNews - A Dutch court in The Hague, on Monday, sentenced a former member of an armed group loyal to the ousted Syrian regime's President Bashar al-Assad to 26 years in prison for "committing crimes against humanity by torturing and raping prisoners more than a decade ago."

The judges established that "Rafiq A" (58 years old), whose surname was not disclosed by the Dutch court, was an interrogator in the "National Defense Forces" in the city of Salamiya in Hama Province during the years 2013 and 2014.

During his trial, Rafiq repeatedly denied his involvement in the crimes and accused the witnesses of lying.

Torture and Rape of Victims

Judge Vim van Hatoum stated in the summary of the ruling: "The suspect participated in the torture and rape or other forms of sexual assault on eight victims in this case, either by committing the acts himself or by ordering others to do so."

The court clarified that this case "sets a judicial precedent in the Netherlands as it is the first case to classify other forms of sexual violence of similar severity as a crime against humanity," noting that "the severity of the crimes and the suffering of the victims were fundamental in determining the sentence."

The court explained that the victims "were handcuffed and blindfolded, assaulted with various tools, kicked for long periods, placed inside a tire, hung by their feet, subjected to electric shocks, and often forced to strip naked."

Deadly Atmosphere of Terror

The court stated that the man repeatedly subjected his victims to "a deadly atmosphere of terror, threat, pain, despair, and helplessness," justifying its ruling by the "exceptional gravity of the crimes and the suffering endured by the victims."

In the civil aspect of the case, the court announced its rejection of the financial compensation claims submitted by the victims, citing its lack of jurisdiction to adjudicate such claims in this type of criminal trial.

The sentencing session witnessed notable attendance from Syrians and Dutch citizens, including survivors of detention, activists, and those interested in issues of justice and accountability.

The man arrived in the Netherlands in 2021, was granted temporary asylum, and settled with his family in the town of Dronten in central Netherlands. He was subsequently arrested by the police following a report they received.

During his trial, the man denied the charges against him, viewing the matter as a "conspiracy." His lawyers stated that their client "was subjected to torture by groups and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder."

The investigation into this case began after a report was received in November 2021 regarding a man residing in the Netherlands suspected of being involved in committing crimes in Syria, based on three testimonies that formed the basis of the case.

Several European countries are prosecuting suspects in events of the war in Syria under universal jurisdiction, which is a legal tool that allows countries to prosecute the most serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred. Courts in France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and Austria are examining similar cases.

Source: Al Jazeera