Sourced fact
The News
According to France 24, a Serbian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Walid and Moudhi to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Syrian conflict which lasted 14 years, resulting in the deaths of approximately half a million people.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, this ruling – despite Assad’s absence – represents a significant development in the international legal trajectory concerning accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing Syrian conflict since 2011. This type of judgment, issued in absentia of the defendant, reflects the considerable challenges that international courts face in attempting to deliver justice for victims in conflict zones, where identifying the location of suspects is often extremely difficult.
In a broader context, this ruling adds to a series of ongoing legal proceedings against parties involved in the Syrian conflict, both within Syria and outside it. These efforts aim to hold accountable those responsible for the horrific human rights violations witnessed across many years, and affirm the principle of accountability before international law. The Syrian conflict represents one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century, with devastating loss of life and widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure, necessitating continued international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and work towards a permanent political solution.
