FRAMING JUSTICE IN SYRIA: THE ROAD TOWARD COMPREHENSIVE JUSTICE
The full research is available below
Since 2011, the Assad regime has knowingly committed egregious crimes against Syrian civilians that qualify as ‘crimes against humanity,’ including enforced disappearance, torture, murder, imprisonment, and rape,” said HRF Chief Legal Officer Javier El-Hage. “Universal jurisdiction provides a glimmer of hope to the Syrian people — it allows states to prosecute crimes against humanity without the need of showing territorial or nationality ties to the events, the victims, or the perpetrators. Under this principle, domestic courts can ultimately adjudicate the most egregious global crimes offering the opportunity to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent impunity.”
The principle of universal jurisdiction establishes a state’s jurisdiction over gross violations of international law, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and torture, even though the crimes occurred outside of its territory and neither the victim nor the offender is a citizen of that state. Germany, for example, has been proactive in pursuing international cases, particularly those involving Syria. Known as the Koblenz Trial, Germany recently convicted Anwar R. and Eyad A., two former officials of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s security apparatus, for serious crimes against humanity in Syria.
