Former Syrian Fighter Receives 26-Year Sentence in Netherlands
A court in the Netherlands has sentenced a former member of a pro-government Syrian militia to 26 years behind bars after convicting him of crimes against humanity linked to torture and sexual abuse during the Syrian conflict.
The ruling was delivered by judges in The Hague, who concluded that the 58-year-old man participated in the mistreatment of detainees more than a decade ago. Prosecutors had initially requested a 30-year sentence.
Abuses Took Place During Syria’s Civil War
According to the court, the convicted man served with the National Defense Force, a paramilitary group aligned with the government of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. He was found responsible for torturing and sexually abusing prisoners held between 2013 and 2014.
Investigators determined that the crimes occurred in detention facilities in the Syrian city of Salamiyah, where opponents of the government were allegedly imprisoned and subjected to severe abuse. During the trial, several survivors provided testimony detailing the suffering they endured.
Case Prosecuted Under Universal Jurisdiction
The defendant arrived in the Netherlands seeking asylum in 2021 and was arrested two years later. Dutch authorities were able to pursue the case under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which permits courts to prosecute serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred.
Throughout the proceedings, the accused denied all allegations and claimed he was the victim of false accusations. Both prosecutors and defense lawyers have the option to challenge the verdict through an appeal.
The case marks another example of European courts pursuing accountability for atrocities committed during the Syrian civil war, as countries continue to investigate and prosecute alleged war criminals residing within their borders.
