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French Judges Issue Warrant for Assad in Syria War Crimes Case French Judges Issue Warrant for Assad in Syria War Crimes Case
(8 days later)
French investigative judges have issued an international arrest warrant for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria that accuses him of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity over the deadly use of chemical weapons against his own people, a judicial official said on Wednesday.French investigative judges have issued an international arrest warrant for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria that accuses him of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity over the deadly use of chemical weapons against his own people, a judicial official said on Wednesday.
The move is a dramatic step, albeit a largely symbolic one, toward holding Mr. al-Assad and his circle accountable for some of the worst atrocities committed in the yearslong Syria conflict.The move is a dramatic step, albeit a largely symbolic one, toward holding Mr. al-Assad and his circle accountable for some of the worst atrocities committed in the yearslong Syria conflict.
Warrants also were issued for the Syrian leader’s brother, Maher al-Assad, and two senior officials — Gen. Ghassan Abbas and Gen. Bassam al-Hassan — according to the French judicial official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case.Warrants also were issued for the Syrian leader’s brother, Maher al-Assad, and two senior officials — Gen. Ghassan Abbas and Gen. Bassam al-Hassan — according to the French judicial official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
While it is unlikely that Mr. al-Assad will ever stand trial in France, the warrants offer a measure of comfort to some Syrians that their suffering has not been overlooked.While it is unlikely that Mr. al-Assad will ever stand trial in France, the warrants offer a measure of comfort to some Syrians that their suffering has not been overlooked.
Efforts to bring Mr. al-Assad to the International Criminal Court have been repeatedly stymied. But several countries, including Germany, Sweden and France, have launched prosecutions of other individuals, mostly low- and mid-level members of the Syrian security forces.
A special war crimes unit in the French judiciary has been quietly investigating a complaint against Mr. al-Assad and his close associates that was filed in March 2021 by three international human rights groups and stood out for addressing the issue of chemical weapons.