German prosecutors announce arrest of Syria pro-government militia member for war crimes and crimes against humanity

German Prosecutors Arrest Syrian National Accused of Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

German prosecutors announced Thursday that a Syrian national accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes through torture and enslavement between 2012 and 2015 has been arrested. The investigating judge presiding over the matter ordered the man detained pending trial.

Background

The Syrian national, known only as ‘Ahmad H.,’ was arrested by Officers of the Federal Criminal Police Force’s Bremen office. In their statement, prosecutors alleged that the defendant operated within a pro-government militia that performed torture, killings, and extortion in Syria. Prosecutors say that the militia was responsible for the 2013 Tadamon Massacre, a mass execution of at least 41 people in Damascus’ Tadamon neighborhood.

The accused personally participated in the abuse of civilians on various occasions. In one incident in 2013, he slapped a man detained by the militia in the face and instructed other members of the group to brutally beat the detainee with plastic pipes for hours. In autumn 2014, Ahmad H., together with other militiamen and employees of the Syrian military intelligence service, repeatedly punched and kicked a civilian at a checkpoint. The accused grabbed the victim’s hair and slammed his head onto the sidewalk. He then tied the man up before he was taken away by the militia. Between December 2012 and early 2015, the suspect arrested 25 to 30 people at a checkpoint in two cases and forced them to transport sandbags to the nearby front for a day. There the prisoners worked under repeated fire and without a supply of food and water. They were also beaten by the accused and other militia members.

Legal Basis

The provisions under which Ahmad H. was arrested were sections 7 and 8 of the Code of Crimes against International Law and section 25 of the Criminal Code. Germany created the Code of Crimes against International Law in 2002. This code authorizes the prosecution of offenses such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, even if “the offence was committed abroad and bears no relation to Germany.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
• Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime

German prosecutors said the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the man after a hearing of the Federal Court of Justice on July 26th.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
   • Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime
   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. This goal aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The specific targets under SDG 16 that can be identified based on the article’s content are:

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
3. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime
4. Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
5. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels
6. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

The article mentions specific incidents of violence, torture, and abuse committed by the accused Syrian national. These incidents are connected to Target 16.1, which aims to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

The article also highlights the need to promote the rule of law, ensure equal access to justice, and combat organized crime. These aspects are related to Target 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all.

Furthermore, the article mentions the accused’s involvement in extortion and illicit activities. This is connected to Target 16.4, which aims to reduce illicit financial and arms flows and combat organized crime.

The article implies corruption and bribery within the pro-government militia. This relates to Target 16.5, which aims to substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

The article also highlights the need for inclusive decision-making processes and protection of fundamental freedoms. These aspects are connected to Target 16.7, which focuses on ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels, and Target 16.10, which aims to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.

Based on the information provided in the article, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of reported incidents of violence and related death rates
• Level of access to justice for all individuals, including victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes
• Amount of illicit financial and arms flows and efforts to combat organized crime
• Level of corruption and bribery in the pro-government militia and related institutions
• Extent of inclusive decision-making processes and representation in governance
• Level of public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: jurist.org

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