On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the Criminal Court in Paris began the trial of three senior Syrian regime officials on charges of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in the deaths of French citizens.
This trial (continuing until May 24) is the first of its kind in France, where senior Syrian regime officials are being tried “in absentia” for their involvement in the disappearance and subsequent deaths of French citizens Mazen and his son Patrick Dabbagh.
This marks the first time a serving Syrian official has been tried for alleged war crimes.
According to the International Federation for Human Rights, the proceedings aim to “prosecute the highest officials in the regime since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in March 2011” against President Bashar al-Assad.
The victims were arrested in November 2013 by elements believed to be from the Air Force Intelligence Directorate of the Syrian regime.
The defendants are being tried in absentia after two French judges issued an order to prosecute the three accused on April 4, 2023, following the issuance of international arrest warrants against them. If one of them is captured after the verdict is issued, they will have the right to appeal their conviction and be retried before the primary court.
Same Justice organization calls for the release of all detainees held by the Syrian regime and demands that “war criminals” and all perpetrators of crimes against humanity be prosecuted and that the victims’ families receive justice.
To learn more about the accused and the victims, click here:
