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„Al-Khatib“-Trial at the OLG Koblenz (2020/21)

 
On April 23, 2020, the world’s first trial for state torture opened before the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Koblenz against two former employees of the Assad regime: Eyad A. and Anwar R. The indictment accused them of having been employed in 2011 and 2012 at a prison of a Syrian intelligence service in Damascus. During that time, arbitrary arrests of (actual and suspected) opposition members took place, and prisoners were tortured. Eyad A. was involved in arrests, while Anwar R. led the department responsible for interrogations. Both Syrian nationals were charged with crimes against humanity.

In February 2021, the proceedings against the two defendants were separated. On February 24, 2021, the verdict in the case against Eyad A. was announced. He was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for aiding and abetting a crime against humanity (§§ 7 para. 1 no. 5, no. 9 VStGB, 27 StGB).

On January 13, 2022, the OLG Koblenz sentenced the second defendant, Anwar R., also for crimes against humanity, to life imprisonment.

The ICWC Trial-Monitoring Programme documents the proceedings in cooperation with the Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC), an NGO based in Washington DC. The trial is continuously observed and documented by SJAC monitors. For quality assurance of the reports and advice regarding German criminal and procedural law, ICWC Trial-Monitoring staff maintain ongoing communication with the SJAC monitors.

The reports are regularly published in English on the SJAC website.

Pressemitteilung zur Eröffnung des Hauptverfahrens.

Pressemitteilung zur Urteilsverkündung im Fall Eyad A..

Pressemitteilung zur Urteilsverkündung im Fall Anwar R..