War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad

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extradition of Rifaat al-Assad">War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad</strong></li></ul></div></div></div> <div class="row content-row"> <div class="col-md-12 text-xs-right social-sharing"> <span class="tri-share-icon"> Share This: <i class="fa fa-share-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i> </span> <div class="hidden addthis_custom_sharing"></div> </div> <div class="the-content col-md-9"> <h1 class="latest-title orange text-uppercase nospacebelow"> War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad </h1> <div class="sm-date orange">16.08.2023 ( <strong>Last modified:</strong> 23.08.2023 ) </div> <div class="clr20"></div> <div class="latest-body"> <p><strong>(Geneva, 16 August 2023) – The Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC) has ordered the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) to issue an international arrest warrant for former Vice President Rifaat al-Assad in connection with the proceedings he has been facing since 2013 for his alleged role in the massive war crimes committed in the city of Hama in February 1982. TRIAL International calls on the Swiss authorities to swiftly indict and bring to trial the man nicknamed the “Butcher of Hama”, now aged 85.</strong></p> <p><strong><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25705" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s.png" alt="" width="1997" height="1070" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s.png 1997w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-300x161.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-1024x549.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-768x411.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-1536x823.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1997px) 100vw, 1997px" /></strong></p> <p>After a lengthy investigation, <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rifaat-al-assads-return-to-syria-a-severe-blow-to-the-fight-against-impunity/">criticized</a> by TRIAL International for its delay, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) finally issued an international arrest warrant for Mr. al-Assad in November 2021. At that time, Mr. al-Assad had just fled France, where he was a resident and had been sentenced to four years of imprisonment for various economic offences. In December 2021, however, the FOJ refused to issue the international arrest warrant.</p> <p>In a ruling dated 19 July 2022 – kept confidential until now to ensure the effectiveness of the measure – the FCC ordered the FOJ to issue the arrest warrant for Mr. al-Assad, confirming the competence of the Swiss authorities to prosecute him and request his extradition to Switzerland.</p> <p>For Benoit Meystre, legal advisor at TRIAL International, “It is to be welcomed that the prosecuting authorities have finally decided to request Mr. al-Assad’s extradition, although it is regrettable that we had to wait until his return to Syria before demanding he appear before the Swiss courts”.</p> <p>As a reminder, TRIAL International <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/in-switzerland-proceedings-for-war-crimes-against-rifaat-al-assad/">filed a criminal complaint</a> before the OAG against Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of current dictator Bashar al-Assad, in December 2013. The “Butcher of Hama” has since been under investigation for his alleged role in the massacres committed in February 1982. The Syrian Defense Forces, commanded by Mr. al-Assad, were guilty of executions, enforced disappearances, rape and torture on an unimaginable scale. According to various sources, between 10’000 and 40’000 people were killed in the span of only three weeks.</p> <p>More than 40 years after the Hama massacre, TRIAL International believes that it is more necessary than ever that the OAG investigation be closed as soon as possible, so that a trial can be held in the near future. Given Mr. al-Assad’s advanced age, any further delay risks depriving the victims of a trial aimed at bringing them justice.</p> <p>Read the FCC’s decision in French <a href="https://bstger2.weblaw.ch/pdf/20220719_RR_2021_299.pdf">here</a>.</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3 right-sidebar "> <div class="media-contacts"> <h3 class="orange text-uppercase"> Media Contacts </h3> <div class="contact"> <div class="contact-name"> <strong>Zoé Goy, Communications Officer</strong> </div> <div class="contact-details"> media@trialinternational.org<br /> www.trialinternational.org </div> </div> </div> <div class="downloads"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right white"> <span class="tag">PDF</span> </div> <div class="title"> TRIAL International - Press release ENG - Rifaat al-Assad </div> <div class="download-file"> <a onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'File', 'download', 'TRIAL International - Press release ENG - Rifaat al-Assad');" href="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230815_TRIAL_CP_ENG.pdf" target="_blank"> <i class="fa fa-4x fa-file-pdf-o"></i> </a> </div> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right white"> <span class="tag">PDF</span> </div> <div class="title"> TRIAL International - Press release AR - Rifaat al-Assad </div> <div class="download-file"> <a onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'File', 'download', 'TRIAL International - Press release AR - Rifaat al-Assad');" href="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230816-CP_decision_-TPF_TRIAL_AR.pdf" target="_blank"> <i class="fa fa-4x fa-file-pdf-o"></i> </a> </div> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right white"> <span class="tag">PDF</span> </div> <div class="title"> FCC DECISION IN FR </div> <div class="download-file"> <a onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'File', 'download', 'FCC DECISION IN FR');" href="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20220719_RR_2021_299.pdf" target="_blank"> <i class="fa 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href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/historic-conviction-in-germany-of-a-former-member-of-a-gambian-death-squad-for-crimes-against-humanity/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Banner-2-DONALD-verdict_artice-et-home-1024x341.png" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-item "> <div class="container container-1200"> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news-releases/">News releases</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/shining-verdict-in-the-kokodikoko-case-drc/">Shining verdict in the Kokodikoko case (DRC)</a> </h3> <small>05.06.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a> </div> <div class="summary"> Three former militiamen, including the infamous warlord Kokodikoko, have been condemned for crimes against humanity. The... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/shining-verdict-in-the-kokodikoko-case-drc/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/shining-verdict-in-the-kokodikoko-case-drc/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Procès-Kokodikoko-cTRIAL-InternationaAmani-featured.jpg" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news/">News</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/the-ousman-sonko-case-a-historic-conviction-yet-a-missed-opportunity-to-recognize-sexual-violence-as-a-weapon-of-repression/">Sonko case: a historic conviction, yet a missed opportunity to recognize sexual violenc...</a> </h3> <small>05.06.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/switzerland/">Switzerland</a> </div> <div class="summary"> The conviction of former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Switzerland for crimes against humanity on 15 May 202... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/the-ousman-sonko-case-a-historic-conviction-yet-a-missed-opportunity-to-recognize-sexual-violence-as-a-weapon-of-repression/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news-releases/">News releases</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rdc-kasai-des-responsables-politiques-et-militaires-juges-pour-crimes-de-guerre-et-crimes-contre-lhumanite/">DRC - Kasai: Political and Military Leaders Standing Trial For War Crimes And Crimes Ag...</a> </h3> <small>21.05.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a> </div> <div class="summary"> On May 20, the trial of a dozen militiamen, local politicians and representatives of the Congolese security forces for w... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rdc-kasai-des-responsables-politiques-et-militaires-juges-pour-crimes-de-guerre-et-crimes-contre-lhumanite/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rdc-kasai-des-responsables-politiques-et-militaires-juges-pour-crimes-de-guerre-et-crimes-contre-lhumanite/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_featured-CP-1024x1024.png" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news-releases/">News releases</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/gambian-former-minister-of-interior-ousman-sonko-convicted-of-crimes-against-humanity-in-historic-swiss-trial/">Gambian former Minister of Interior Ousman Sonko sentenced to 20 years in prison for cr...</a> </h3> <small>16.05.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/gambia/">The Gambia</a> </div> <div class="summary"> (Geneva, 15 May 2024) – Ousman Sonko, Gambian former Minister of Interior, was convicted today of crimes against humanit... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/gambian-former-minister-of-interior-ousman-sonko-convicted-of-crimes-against-humanity-in-historic-swiss-trial/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/gambian-former-minister-of-interior-ousman-sonko-convicted-of-crimes-against-humanity-in-historic-swiss-trial/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/sonko_guilty-1024x535.png" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-item "> <div class="container container-1200"> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news/">News</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/universal-jurisdiction-annual-review-highlights-in-2023/">Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review: Highlights in 2023</a> </h3> <small>16.04.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/argentina/">Argentina</a> </div> <div class="summary"> TRIAL International, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), the European... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/universal-jurisdiction-annual-review-highlights-in-2023/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/universal-jurisdiction-annual-review-highlights-in-2023/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/UJAR-2024_banner_FB-1024x450.png" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/">Reports and publications</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/27939/">Recommendations for the investigation and prosecution of international crimes resulting...</a> </h3> <small>21.03.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/ukraine/">Ukraine</a> </div> <div class="summary"> TRIAL International contributed to the ‘An Environmental Compact for Ukraine’ report titled ‘A Green Future: Recommendat... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/27939/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news-releases/">News releases</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad-will-stand-trial-in-switzerland-on-charges-of-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/">Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland on charges...</a> </h3> <small>12.03.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/syria/">Syria</a> </div> <div class="summary"> (Geneva, 12 March 2024) – Former Syrian Vice-President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland for war crimes an... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad-will-stand-trial-in-switzerland-on-charges-of-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad-will-stand-trial-in-switzerland-on-charges-of-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/"><img src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-1024x549.png" alt="Featured Image" class="img-fluid" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <a class="tag" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news/">News</a> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/questions-and-answers-on-on-first-german-trial-for-serious-crimes-committed-in-the-gambia/">Questions and Answers on first German trial for serious crimes committed in The Gambia</a> </h3> <small>28.02.2024</small> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="country"> <img width="20" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/images/icons/globe.svg" alt="Globe" /> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/countries-post/gambia/">The Gambia</a> </div> <div class="summary"> Who is Bai L. and what are the charges against him? Bai L. is a 48-year-old Gambian citizen who is alleged to... <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/questions-and-answers-on-on-first-german-trial-for-serious-crimes-committed-in-the-gambia/"><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container arrows-container"> <a class="arrow-left" href="#latest-carousel" role="button" data-slide="prev"> <i class="slide-prev fa fa-chevron-left"></i> </a> <a class="arrow-right" href="#latest-carousel" role="button" data-slide="next"> <i class="slide-next fa fa-chevron-right"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="container container-1200 text-uppercase text-xs-center view-all"> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest/news-releases/">View All</a> </div> </div> <form name="txt_download_form" id="txt_download_form" target="_blank" action="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad/" method="post"> <input name="filename" type="hidden" value="war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad" /> <input name="html_content" id="html_content" type="hidden" value="" /> </form> </main><footer id="footer" class="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-3 address orange"> <p>TRIAL International<br /> Rue de Lyon 95<br /> 1203 Geneva<br /> Switzerland </p> <p>t: +41 22 321 61 10<br /> e: info@trialinternational.org<br /> trialinternational.org</p> <p>IBAN: CH85 0900 0000 1716 2954 3</p> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-6 subscribe"> <div class="title orange">Stay up to date </div> <div class="text"> <p>Subscribe to our monthly newsletter on TRIAL International’s activities and the latest developments in international justice.</p> </div> <form class="footer-subscribe-form form-inline" method="get" action="/newsletter"> <input type="email" name="subscribe_email" placeholder="Enter your email" class="form-control"> <button type="submit" class="btn text-uppercase">Submit</button> </form> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-3 stay-connected text-md-right"> <div class="title orange">Stay connected </div> <div class="social"> <a href="//twitter.com/Trial" target="_blank">Twitter <i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> </div> <div class="social"> <a href="//linkedin.com/company/trial-international" target="_blank">Linkedin <i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a> </div> <div class="social"> <a href="//facebook.com/trial.org" target="_blank">Facebook <i class="fa fa-facebook"></i></a> </div> <div class="social"> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/feed/" target="_blank">RSS Feed <i class="fa fa-rss"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <div id="sea-bed" class="sea-bed container"> <span>©2024 trialinternational.org</span> | <span>All rights reserved</span> | <span><a href="https://trialinternational.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></span> | <span><a href="https://trialinternational.org/statutes/">Statutes</a></span> | <span class="acw"><a target="_blank" href="http://acw.uk.com">Designed and Produced by ACW</a></span> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/tether-1.3.1/js/tether.min.js?ver=20160422" id="tri-tether-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/bootstrapv4.0.0-alpha.2/js/bootstrap.min.js?ver=20160421" id="tri-bootstrap-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/js/tri-header.js?ver=20160421" id="tri-header-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/themes/tri/assets/js/tri.js?ver=1728284652" id="tri-js-js"></script>  <div id="cookie-notice" role="dialog" class="cookie-notice-hidden cookie-revoke-hidden cn-position-bottom" aria-label="Cookie Notice" style="background-color: rgba(50,50,58,1);"><div class="cookie-notice-container" style="color: #fff"><span id="cn-notice-text" class="cn-text-container">We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best browsing experience on our website. 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War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad - TRIAL International