Germany charges ex-Syrian prison guard over Assad-era abuses

"German prosecutors have charged a former Syrian security official with crimes against humanity, accusing him of torturing dozens of prisoners at a Damascus jail while ex-President Bashar al-Assad was in power. Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor General's office announced the indictment on Monday, alleging the ex-prison guard, named only as Fahad A, took part in more than 100 interrogations between 2011 and 2012 in which prisoners were subjected to severe physical abuse."

"The abuse included electric shocks, cable beatings, forced stress positions and suspensions from the ceiling, according to a statement by the prosecutor's office. As a result of such mistreatment and the catastrophic prison conditions, at least 70 prisoners died, said the statement, noting the former guard is also charged with murder. The official was arrested on May 27 and formally indicted on December 10. He is being held in pre-trial detention, the German prosecutor's office added."

"The Assad regime, which was accused of mass human rights abuses, including the torture of detainees and enforced disappearances, fell after nearly 14 years of civil war. In Germany, prosecutors have used universal jurisdiction laws to seek trials for suspects in crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world. Based on these laws, several people suspected of war crimes during the Syrian conflict have been arrested in the last few years in Germany, which is home to about one million Syrians."

German prosecutors allege Fahad A, a former Syrian security official, took part in over 100 interrogations at a Damascus jail between 2011 and 2012 in which detainees suffered severe physical abuse. The alleged abuse included electric shocks, cable beatings, forced stress positions and suspensions from the ceiling. At least 70 prisoners died from mistreatment and catastrophic prison conditions, and the former guard faces murder charges. He was arrested on May 27, indicted on December 10 and is in pre-trial detention. Germany has pursued suspects from the Syrian conflict under universal jurisdiction, including a recent life sentence in Frankfurt.

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