Rifaat al-Assad - TRIAL International

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aria-selected="true">Updates</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" id="context-tab" data-toggle="tab" href="#context" role="tab" aria-controls="context" aria-selected="false">Context</a> </li> </ul> <div class="tab__content" id="liveTabContent"> <div class="tab-pane fade tab__content--live active in" id="live" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="live-tab"> <div class="latest-body"> <section class="c-block-updates"> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27810"> <div class="update-date"> 12 March 2024 11:35 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27810"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span 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data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad-will-stand-trial-in-switzerland-on-charges-of-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/" data-url-params="#live-27810" data-title="Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27810" data-title="Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="415" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-1024x415.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28116" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-1024x415.jpg 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-300x122.jpg 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-768x311.jpg 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-1536x623.jpg 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat-1800x730.jpg 1800w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Visual-SoMe-indictment-Rifaat.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <p>Former Syrian Vice-President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has just <a href="https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-100363.html">charged</a> with ordering homicides, acts of torture, cruel treatments and illegal detentions perpetrated in the course of the February 1982 massacre in the city of Hama, Syria. With today’s indictment, the victims can finally look forward to justice being done. Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, will be one of the highest-ranking government officials ever to be tried for international crimes based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" 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/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our press release</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-28848"> <div class="update-date"> 2 February 2024 10:36 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-28848"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" 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height="492" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-1024x492.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28849" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-1024x492.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-300x144.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-768x369.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-1536x737.png 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/h82-2048x983.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27573"> <div class="update-date"> 19 December 2023 17:19 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27573"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27573"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/ten-years-on-victims-still-hope-a-landmark-trial-will-open-in-switzerland-against-former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad/" data-url-params="#live-27573" data-title="Ten years on, victims still hope a landmark trial will open in Switzerland against former Syrian vice-president Rifaat al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" 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class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">Ten years on, victims still hope a landmark trial will open in Switzerland against former Syrian vice-president Rifaat al-Assad </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="667" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-1024x667.png" alt="Screenshot video_PG Hotel Rifaat holding picture" class="wp-image-26969" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-1024x667.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-300x195.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-768x500.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-1536x1001.png 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-video_PG-Hotel-Rifaat-holding-picture-2048x1334.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Philip Grant, Director of TRIAL International, sitting on the same sofa in a hotel in Geneva, where Rifaat al-Assad was spotted in December 2013, holding the picture that had been made of Mr. al-Assad back then</em></figcaption></figure> <p>Ten years ago, to the day, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Switzerland, opened a criminal investigation for war crimes against former Syrian Vice-President Rifaat al-Assad. A criminal complaint had been filed by TRIAL International just days prior, while Mr. al-Assad was present in Switzerland. Throughout these years, TRIAL International has continued to support the plaintiffs in their quest for justice.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/ten-years-on-victims-still-hope-for-a-trial-in-switzerland-against-rifaat-al-assad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our article</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27572"> <div class="update-date"> 16 August 2023 17:16 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27572"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27572"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad/" data-url-params="#live-27572" data-title="War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad/" data-url-params="#live-27572" data-title="War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27572" data-title="War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">War crimes in Syria: Switzerland issues an international arrest warrant for the extradition of Rifaat al-Assad </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="549" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s-1024x549.png" alt="" class="wp-image-25705" srcset="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-300x161.png 300w, 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, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rifaat_al-Assad_commander_of_the_Defense_Corps_in_the_1980s.png 1997w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <p>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.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our press release</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27571"> <div class="update-date"> 13 December 2022 17:13 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27571"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27571"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/rifaat-al-assad-case-9-years-of-hope-and-uncertainties/" data-url-params="#live-27571" data-title="Rifaat Al-Assad case: 9 years of hope and uncertainties"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/rifaat-al-assad-case-9-years-of-hope-and-uncertainties/" data-url-params="#live-27571" 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src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/640px-After_Hama_Massacre_19.jpg" alt="Photo of destruction in Hama following the Hama Massacre in 1982" class="wp-image-24665" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/640px-After_Hama_Massacre_19.jpg 640w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/640px-After_Hama_Massacre_19-300x209.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo of destruction in Hama following the massacre in 1982</figcaption></figure> <p>On the 13th of December 2013, alerted of his presence in Switzerland, TRIAL International filed a criminal denunciation against Rifaat Al-Assad before the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) for his alleged responsibility in the massacre that took place in the Syrian city of Hama in February 1982.</p> <p>Today, TRIAL International and the Syrian human rights defender Anwar Al-Bunni discuss the key moments of the case, which is still being investigated in Switzerland and not yet closed, nine years after the opening of the proceedings against the man known as “the Butcher of Hama”.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rifaat-al-assad-case-9-years-of-hope-and-uncertainties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our article</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27570"> <div class="update-date"> 13 October 2021 17:06 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27570"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 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width="1024" height="415" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013-1024x415.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22957" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013-1024x415.jpg 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013-300x122.jpg 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013-768x311.jpg 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013-1536x623.jpg 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/News-Release_PEI_fuite-Rifaat_20211013.jpg 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rifaat al-Assad is being prosecuted for war crimes for his involvement in the 1982 massacre in the Syrian city of Hamah. © Creative Commons</figcaption></figure> <p>After 36 years of forced exile in France, Rifaat al-Assad has returned to Syria and escaped from the French justice system. The former Syrian vice-president, despite having been sentenced on appeal in Paris last month to four years in prison for ill-gotten gains, was able to covertly leave French territory and return to Damascus on 7 October 2021. His flight compromises not only the enforcement of his sentence in France, but also the procedure ongoing against him in Switzerland for war crimes, opened in response to a criminal complaint filed by TRIAL International in 2013.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rifaat-al-assads-return-to-syria-a-severe-blow-to-the-fight-against-impunity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our press release</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27567"> <div class="update-date"> 15 February 2021 16:51 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27567"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27567"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/syria-justice-for-the-hama-massacre/" data-url-params="#live-27567" data-title="Syria: Justice for the Hama massacre"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/syria-justice-for-the-hama-massacre/" data-url-params="#live-27567" data-title="Syria: Justice for the Hama massacre"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27567" data-title="Syria: Justice for the Hama massacre"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">Syria: Justice for the Hama massacre </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="724" height="1024" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-724x1024.png" alt="Justice for the Hama massacre, Rifaat al-Assad" class="wp-image-21401" style="width:456px;height:auto" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-724x1024.png 724w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-212x300.png 212w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-768x1086.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/affiche-webinaire-1448x2048.png 1448w" sizes="(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" /></figure> <p>Exactly 39 years ago, Syrian armed forces began besieging the city of Hama as a retaliation for an attempted uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood. In little less than a month in February 1982, the troops of Hafez al-Assad carried out a full-scale massacre that cost the lives of tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians. Rifaat al-Assad, brother of the President, who was leading the Defense Brigades, has been denying his involvment in these events ever since. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has been investigating Rifaat al-Assad for war crimes since December 2013, following a criminal complaint filed by TRIAL International.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/syria-justice-for-the-hama-massacre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Invitation to our online conference</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27471"> <div class="update-date"> 18 September 2018 16:46 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27471"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27471"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/is-switzerland-becoming-a-safe-haven-for-war-criminals/" data-url-params="#live-27471" data-title="Is Switzerland becoming a safe haven for war criminals?"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/is-switzerland-becoming-a-safe-haven-for-war-criminals/" data-url-params="#live-27471" data-title="Is Switzerland becoming a safe haven for war criminals?"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27471" data-title="Is Switzerland becoming a safe haven for war criminals?"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">Is Switzerland becoming a safe haven for war criminals? </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="498" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted-1024x498.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25442" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted-1024x498.jpg 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted-300x146.jpg 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted-768x374.jpg 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted-1536x747.jpg 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/justice_adjusted.jpg 1788w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <p>A UN report made public points the finger at Switzerland. In two criminal cases for war crimes, the Office of the Attorney General is alleged to have succumbed to political pressure. This has resulted in huge delays in proceedings, to the detriment of victims supported by TRIAL International.</p> <p>In this article, summarising the criticism directed at Switzerland by the United Nations special rapporteur on torture and their counterpart on the independence of judges and lawyers, the delays in the present case of <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/khaled-nezzar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Khaled Nezzar</a> as well as the one of <a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/rifaat-al-assad-case/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rifaat Al-Assad</a> are being questioned.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/switzerland-too-slow-to-try-international-crimes-says-un/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the article</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27566"> <div class="update-date"> 12 July 2018 16:44 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27566"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27566"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/hama-82-belongs-to-a-long-story-of-injustice/" data-url-params="#live-27566" data-title="“Hama 82 belongs to a long story of injustice”"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/hama-82-belongs-to-a-long-story-of-injustice/" data-url-params="#live-27566" data-title="“Hama 82 belongs to a long story of injustice”"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27566" data-title="“Hama 82 belongs to a long story of injustice”"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">“Hama 82 belongs to a long story of injustice” </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="509" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/HsulaimanSlider-1024x509.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13599" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/HsulaimanSlider-1024x509.jpg 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/HsulaimanSlider-300x149.jpg 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/HsulaimanSlider-768x382.jpg 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/HsulaimanSlider.jpg 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>© Hamid Sulaiman</em></figcaption></figure> <p>On 2 February 1982, Syrian government forces, including the Defense Brigades, attacked the city of Hama to crush opponents to the regime who had taken up arms.</p> <p>For almost a month, civilians were trapped into their city, unable to get any help, food, supply, nor electricity… Civil casualties ranged from 10’000 to 40’000, depending on the sources.</p> <p>Hamid Sulaiman, a Syrian artist born in Damascus, is one of the “young dreamers of the Arab spring”. He was not yet born when Hama 82 massacre took place, but it still resonates with him like “a ghost of terror”. Forced to flee Syria in 2011, he settled in Paris where he recently published his first graphic novel based on his experience.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.wixsite.com/fightimpunity/post/tales-of-darkness-and-hope-with-syrian-artist-hamid-sulaiman" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read Hamid Sulaiman’s full interview, dotted with personal drawings</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27564"> <div class="update-date"> 3 October 2017 16:25 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27564"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27564"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/rifaat-al-assad-case/" data-url-params="#live-27564" data-title="Rifaat Al-Assad case"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/rifaat-al-assad-case/" data-url-params="#live-27564" data-title="Rifaat Al-Assad case"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27564" data-title="Rifaat Al-Assad case"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">Rifaat Al-Assad case </div> <div class="update-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="431" height="331" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/249335_105229582899626_2079101_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11921" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/249335_105229582899626_2079101_n.jpg 431w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/249335_105229582899626_2079101_n-300x230.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px" /></figure> <p>Rifaat Al-Assad is a career military man and a Syrian politician. He is the younger brother of the former president of Syria Hafez Al-Assad, to which he has largely facilitated the ascension to power in 1970. He is the uncle of the current president Bashar Al-Assad.</p> <p>A member of the highest political circles in the 1980s, he was part of the regional commandment of the Baath party and has led the “Defense Brigades” (<em>Saraya al-difaa an al thawara</em>), Syria’s elite commando troops, from 1971 to 1984.</p> <p>Thought by many to succeed to his elder brother as president, he was then suspected of preparing a coup against the latter. He was subsequently forced into exile in 1984. Since then, he has lived in various European countries where he has invested his substantial personal fortune.</p> <p>In June 2016, he was indicted in France for embezzlement of public funds and undeclared labour. Some of his assets, worth several million euros, were seized in France, in Spain and in the United Kingdom.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=11960" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our article</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-block-item" id="live-27563"> <div class="update-date"> 25 September 2017 16:20 <div class="c-Share"> <button class="c-Share-social meta__link orange" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#pop-27563"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18" height="14" ><path fill="currentColor" d="M10.73.063c-.178-.149-.444-.018-.444.218v3.062C1.89 4.86.3 11.5.002 13.728c-.018.16.1.272.236.272a.253.253 0 0 0 .181-.084C4.595 9.476 8.806 9.14 9.968 9.14c.209 0 .318.01.318.01v3.375c0 .24.27.369.447.215l7.17-6.228a.287.287 0 0 0-.003-.433L10.73.063Z"/></svg> <span class="sr-only">Partage</span> </button> <div class="c-Share-social-container" id="pop-27563"> <ul class="meta__sub" > <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="tw" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/in-switzerland-proceedings-for-war-crimes-against-rifaat-al-assad/" data-url-params="#live-27563" data-title="In Switzerland, proceedings for war crimes against Rifaat Al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__twitter"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="fb" data-url="https://trialinternational.org/case-update/in-switzerland-proceedings-for-war-crimes-against-rifaat-al-assad/" data-url-params="#live-27563" data-title="In Switzerland, proceedings for war crimes against Rifaat Al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__facebook"></span> </span> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> </button> </li> <li class="meta__icon-sub"> <button type="button" class="js-social meta__link-sub" data-position="feed" data-social="copy" data-url-params="#live-27563" data-title="In Switzerland, proceedings for war crimes against Rifaat Al-Assad"> <span class="meta__icon-container"> <span class="meta__icon icon__link"></span> </span> <span class="meta__label-sub"> <span class="js-label-copy">Copier le lien</span> <span class="js-label-copied"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="update-titre orange">In Switzerland, proceedings for war crimes against Rifaat Al-Assad </div> <div class="update-content"> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Revelations about TRIAL International’s investigation</h4> <p>A collective of lawyers has revealed today the existence of criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Rifaat Al-Assad for war crimes committed in Syria in the 1980s. TRIAL International confirms it has, after a thorough investigation, denounced the former vice-president to the Swiss judicial authorities. A solid case is now in the hands of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), who must now bring to its close this exemplary and historical case.</p> <p>Since 2013 and following a criminal complaint by TRIAL International, Rifaat Al-Assad is the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland for war crimes. But four years later, the NGO is worried the case is at a stalemate, despite the significant amount of evidence at hand. This morning, the complainants’ lawyers have publicly challenged the OAG and denounced a denial of justice for their clients – who are all victims of the Syrian regime’s barbarity.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/in-switzerland-proceedings-for-war-crimes-against-rifaat-al-assad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our press release</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade tab__content--fact" id="context" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="context-tab"> <div class="sidebar-update"> <div class="sidebar-update-header"> Context </div> <div class="sidebar-update-content"> <p>Born on 22 August 1937, Rifaat al-Assad is the younger brother of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. He is the uncle of current President Bashar al-Assad.</p> <p>Syrian politician of military career, he was seen by many as the likely successor to Hafez al-Assad, but was forced into exile in 1984, after being suspected of an attempted coup d’état against his brother. During decades, he lived in several European countries and returned to Syria in October 2021, at the age of 84.</p> <p><strong>The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in Switzerland is accusing Rifaat al-Assad of having participated in the massive war crimes and crimes against humanity that were perpetrated in the Syrian city of Hama</strong> in February 1982. At the time of the massacre, he was in command of the “Defense Brigades” which besieged, assaulted and partially destroyed the city. Between 10,000 and 40,000 people are said to have been killed, countless were tortured and/or disappeared.</p> <p><strong>TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint against Rifaat al-Assad in November 2013</strong> when the organization was made aware of his presence on Swiss territory. A formal investigation was opened by the OAG on 19 December 2013.</p> <p><a href="https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/war-crimes-in-syria-switzerland-issues-an-international-arrest-warrant-for-the-extradition-of-rifaat-al-assad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>In November 2021, the Swiss OAG issued an international arrest warrant against him</strong></a>, which was published by the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), requesting his extradition to Switzerland. <strong><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/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The OAG indicted him for war crimes and crimes against humanity</a> on 11 March 2024</strong>.</p> <p>HISTORICAL BACKGROUND</p> <p>The Syrian regime implemented a policy of repression that turned into open conflict with the Muslim Brotherhood in the late 1970s. From 1979 to 1982, it confronted the fighting vanguard of the Muslim Brotherhood, which had become the main opposition force to Hafez al-Assad. This conflict culminated in the destruction of the city of Hamah in 1982.</p> <p>When Hafez al-Assad died on 10 June 2000, his son Bashar was declared President. His “election” gave rise to the Damascus Spring and hopes of reform, but in autumn 2001 the authorities cracked down on the opposition movement, imprisoning its leaders and killing more than 3’500 people.</p> <p>The Syrian civil war, which is still ongoing, was inspired by the Arab Spring revolutions. It began in 2011 with a series of peaceful demonstrations, which were put down by a deadly crackdown by the Syrian security apparatus. The government is suspected of using chemical weapons against its civilians in August 2013. According to the United Nations, as of October 2017, an estimated 400’000 people had been killed in the war and millions of refugees fled to neighbouring countries.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>>> You can read more about <a href="https://ujim.trialinternational.org/latest-post/rifaat-al-assad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the case of Rifaat al-Assad in our <strong>Universal Jurisdiction Interactive Map</strong></a> (UJIM).</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="latest-carousel-section"> <h2 class="text-xs-center text-uppercase"> <span class="title-wrap orange">Other Cases</span> </h2> <div id="latest-carousel" class="carousel slide" data-ride="carousel"> <div class="carousel-inner" role="listbox"> <div class="carousel-item active"> <div class="container container-1200"> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/donat-kwenga-omari/"> Donat Kwenga Omari</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Ongoing</span> </div> <small>15.11.2024</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"> <p>Kwenga Omari, alias Donat, is a Congolese national and former leader of a Raia Mutomboki militia accused of crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in the territories of Shabunda and Kalehe in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2017 and 2021.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/donat-kwenga-omari/"> <img width="1024" height="415" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-1024x415.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-1024x415.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-300x122.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-768x311.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-1536x623.png 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-2048x831.png 2048w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Donat_map_final_FEATURED_EN-1800x730.png 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/kamonia/">Kamonia</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Closed</span> </div> <small>15.10.2024</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"> <p>On May 20, the trial of a dozen militiamen, local politicians and representatives of the Congolese security forces for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Kamonia territory between 2017 and 2018 opened in Tshikapa (Kasai province, Democratic Republic of Congo).</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/kamonia/"> <img width="1024" height="415" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--1024x415.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--1024x415.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--300x122.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--768x311.png 768w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--1536x623.png 1536w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--2048x831.png 2048w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EN_Kamonia_map_sans-logo--1800x730.png 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/michael-correa/">Michael Correa</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Upcoming</span> </div> <small>19.09.2024</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"> <p>Michael Correa is a Gambian citizen accused of having been part of the “Junglers” death squad that allegedly committed human rights abuses on behalf of former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh. The US Department of Justice <a href="https://cja.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/correa_indictment_filed_0-1.pdfhttps:/cja.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/correa_indictment_filed_0-1.pdf">charged</a> Correa with torture and conspiracy to commit torture of at least six people in 2006. <strong>His trial</strong>, which was set start on 16 September 2024 in Denver, <strong>has been postponed to 7 April 2025</strong>.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/michael-correa/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="Anonymous portrait of a man." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/yuri-harauski/">Yuri Harauski</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Ongoing</span> </div> <small>30.07.2024</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/belarus/">Belarus</a> </div> <div class="summary"> <p>Yuri Harauski is a former member of an elite unit of the troops of the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs (SOBR), created by President Lukashenko in 1998. He stated in the media in 2019 that he had been involved in three enforced disappearances of political opponents in 1999. A complaint was filed against him in 2021 and <strong>his trial took place in September 2023 in Switzerland</strong>.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/yuri-harauski/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="Anonymous portrait of a man." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </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"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/bai-l/">Bai Lowe</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Ongoing</span> </div> <small>30.07.2024</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"> <p>Bai Lowe, a former member of the paramilitary unit known as “Junglers” of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, <strong>was sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court in November 2023</strong> for two murders and an attempted murder constituting crimes against humanity. This was the first trial held on the basis of universal jurisdiction for crimes committed in The Gambia during the Jammeh era.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/bai-l/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="Anonymous portrait of a man." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/ousman-sonko/">Ousman Sonko</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Ongoing</span> </div> <small>30.07.2024</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"> <p>Ousman Sonko was Minister of Interior of The Gambia between 2006 and 2016, during the dictatorship of former President Yahya Jammeh. TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint against him in 2017. His trial took place in January and March 2024 before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court. <strong>Ousman Sonko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity on 15 May 2024</strong>.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/ousman-sonko/"> <img width="1024" height="415" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sonko_featured-1024x415.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="Portrait of Ousman Sonko, former Minister of Interior of The Gambia" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sonko_featured-1024x415.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sonko_featured-1800x730.png 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/khaled-nezzar/">Khaled Nezzar</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Closed</span> </div> <small>30.07.2024</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/algeria/">Algeria</a> </div> <div class="summary"> <p>Khaled Nezzar, former Algerian Minister of Defence, was arrested in Geneva in October 2011, following a denunciation by TRIAL International. After lengthy proceedings, the Office of the Attorney General filed an indictment for war crimes against him in August 2023. He died in December 2023. <strong>His trial had been scheduled to take place between 17 June and 19 July 2024</strong>.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/khaled-nezzar/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CASES_Nezzar_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CASES_Nezzar_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CASES_Nezzar_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CASES_Nezzar_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 col-lg-3 slider-item"> <div class="text-uppercase text-xs-right"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/ndarumanga/">Ndarumanga</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">On trial</span> </div> <small>28.05.2024</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"> <div class="sidebar-update-content"> <p>Munyololo Mbao, alias Ndarumanga, is the former leader of a faction of the Raia Mutomboki armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following his arrest in November 2021, Ndarumanga’s crimes were the subject of a judicial investigation by the military prosecutor that led to his indictment in August 2022 for crimes against humanity. His appeal trial began on May 23.</p> </div>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/ndarumanga/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="Anonymous portrait of a man." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CASES_Man_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </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"> <span class="tag">Case</span> </div> <div class="title"> <h3><a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/roger-lumbala-tshitenga/">Roger Lumbala Tshitenga</a> </h3> <div><span class="tag tag--ontrial">Upcoming</span> </div> <small>19.03.2024</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/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a> </div> <div class="summary"> <p>Roger Lumbala Tshitenga is the former leader of the non-state armed group the Congolese Rally for National Democracy (RCD-N). He was indicted in 2023 for his alleged complicity in and conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity including murder, torture, rape, pillage and enslavement, including sexual slavery, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2002 and 2003.</p>  </div> <a href="https://trialinternational.org/case/roger-lumbala-tshitenga/"> <img width="1024" height="404" src="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CASES_RL_featured.png" class="attachment-article_small size-article_small wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CASES_RL_featured.png 1024w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CASES_RL_featured-300x118.png 300w, https://trialinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CASES_RL_featured-768x303.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a> </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="/cases/">View All</a> </div> </div> <form name="txt_download_form" id="txt_download_form" target="_blank" action="https://trialinternational.org/case/rifaat-al-assad/" method="post"> <input name="filename" type="hidden" value="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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Rifaat al-Assad - TRIAL International