Syrians Accused of Torture During Al-Assad Era Go on Trial in Austria
Prosecutors say the pair helped oversee systematic abuse of 21 detainees, and each faces up to 10 years in prison.
- On Monday, a Vienna court began the trial of former Syrian Brigadier General Khaled al-Halabi and Lieutenant Colonel Musab Abu Rukbah, accused of torturing opponents of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Raqqa between 2011 and 2013.
- Prosecutors allege the defendants are guilty "of having, on numerous occasions, ordered or failed to oppose the mistreatment of members of a protest movement," and the court lifted the 10-year statute of limitations to proceed.
- Thirteen hearing days are scheduled through June 30th, with victims expected to testify; Tatiana Urdaneta Wittek of the Centre for the Enforcement of Human Rights International , representing 18 of the 21 alleged victims, warned: "Austria must not become a refuge for war criminals."
- Defense lawyer Timo Gerersdorfer stated Halabi will plead not guilty, while the two Syrians have resided in Austria since 2015 following an alleged agreement with the Israeli Mossad, code-named "White Milk," reportedly overseen by Martin Weiss.
- Similar cases regarding Syrian civil war crimes have occurred in Germany, France, and Sweden; Syrian lawyer Anwar al-Bunni, who spent five years in prison, called the trial "important" but argued the defendants should have faced charges for crimes against humanity.
21 Articles
21 Articles
From 2011 to 2013, a general and a police officer in Rakka are said to have ordered the torture of political prisoners. In Austria, they are threatened with up to ten years in prison.
Khaled Al Halabi and Mussab A. have to answer in court for their role in the Syrian Assad regime's violent apparatus. Al Halabi is accused of torture
This has never happened in Austria: In Landl two former supporters of the Syrian Assad regime are sitting in front of the Schöffensenat. Between 2011 and 2013, they are said to have ordered to brutally torture prisoners in Syrian prisons – in some cases they have also laid hands on them themselves. In Vienna, however, there is now a threat of a prison sentence. The defense warns against clan arrest. "Today, we are hitting a new chapter in Austri…
Austria begins trial of Assad-era officials accused of torture
Two former Syrian intelligence officers accused of overseeing torture and abuses against opponents of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Raqqa are due to stand trial in Austria on Monday, in one of Europe's most significant cases against former Syrian security officials.
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