The Swedish judiciary held the first sessions of the trial of a former brigadier general in the Syrian regime forces, accused of committing “war crimes” and inciting them in 2012.
The former brigadier general appeared before the Stockholm court in Sweden on April 15, 2024, in the first hearing session, accused of committing “war crimes” during January and July 2012, in the cities of Homs and Hama and their surroundings.
The accused former brigadier general (Mohammed Hamo), aged 65, attended, and the public prosecutor charged him with advising and acting in the “Syrian Army’s war,” which included deliberate attacks in violation of the principles of “distinction, precaution, and proportionality.”
Karolina Wieslander, the public prosecutor, stated that Hamo assisted in coordinating and supplying weapons and ammunition to the fighting units in the Syrian army.
She added that the “widespread” ground and air attacks carried out by the regime’s army caused damage on an “disproportionate scale” in light of the “tangible and immediate military advantages” that could be expected to be achieved.
The brigadier general faces charges that could lead to life imprisonment, making him the highest-ranking military officer to be tried in Europe.
Brigadier General Mohammed Hamo commanded Brigade 11 of the Third Corps in the Syrian army, in Homs and Hama, during 2012, according to the Inter Press Service website.
Mari Kilman, Hamo’s defense lawyer, stated that her client denied criminal responsibility and had no intention of contributing to “random” war, emphasizing the necessity of not holding Hamou responsible for his actions “because he acted in a military context and was obliged to follow orders,” according to her.
Rules 7 and 12 of international humanitarian law require distinguishing between civilian objects and military objectives and urge parties to the conflict to distinguish between objects and not to direct attacks except against military objectives in a non-random manner, which constitutes a principle that “cannot be violated.”
Aida al-Samani, legal advisor to the Human Rights Defenders Organization, told France-Presse that this trial is the first in Europe to address this type of “random” attacks carried out by the Syrian regime in various areas of Syria, and it is the first opportunity to hear the voices of the affected and the victims within an independent court.
According to al-Samani, the indictment is primarily based on witness testimonies, reports, and official documents from the Syrian government, in addition to the information provided by the accused during the investigations, as well as 8 affected plaintiffs who will testify during the trial and many witnesses.
