​​​​​​​Syrian officers' trial in Germany it is first of its kind in World

German authorities have said that two Syrian intelligence officers will be the first in the world to be charged with violations in Syria, one of whom is Anwar Raslan.

Five years ago, the Syrians met Anwar Raslan (the Syrian intelligence officer) and Anwar al-Bunni (the Syrian lawyer) by chance in a supermarket in Berlin, to distinguish the first second as the man who arrested him in a prison of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for five years.

Trials for the truth

In an interview with Agence France-Presse with lawyer Anwar al-Bunni, the latter considered that the trial of these officers in Berlin as the session would held before the German court of Koblans, constituted an "important message" to Syrian officials, and those who carried out the violations said that "you will not escape punishment, so think about it." ".

Anwar al-Bunni, who has been in Germany as a refugee for five and a half years, and a prominent human rights activist in his homeland, is currently collecting evidence and testimonies against Syrian officials to allow for the start of prosecutions.

Several countries, including Germany and France, apply the principle of “universal jurisdiction” that allows a country to prosecute perpetrators of crimes against humanity, regardless of their nationality or the place were committed their crimes.

Although al-Bunni was no longer able to pursue his profession in Germany, the activist is being respected among 700,000 Syrian refugees in Germany, he managed to persuade the victims to testify.

"The issue is not an issue of revenge, but an issue of knowing the truth," explained German lawyer Patrick Crocker, who represents six parties, a Syrian civil prosecutor, to which two women may join.

The lawyer added that these victims who took refuge in different European countries "want the world to know what happened there."

Raslan is accused of killing 58 people under torture

The German judiciary now accuses Anwar Raslan of killing 58 people and torturing at least 4,000 more from April 2011 to September 2012 in al-Khatib Security Branch in Damascus, was run by him.

Lawyer Patrick Crocker confirmed that all those who testified in court "have suffered from physical mistreatment and sometimes very brutally and over a long period of time."

Their crime was "for example, participating in demonstrations, filming a gathering, or collecting medicines for those injured during the demonstrations."

They prefer silence for fear of their loved ones in Syria

Although they fled to Europe, terror still haunts victims, who often prefer to remain silent for fear of being exposed to their relatives in Syria, or for fear of threats from potential Syrian agents in Europe.

The battle is not over for Anwar al-Bunni, who pointed out that about a thousand Syrians "involved in crimes committed by the Syrian regime" are presently in Europe, "without their concern."

As for al-Khatib Prison, Al-Bunni confirmed that "torture is still being practiced" there.

The victims in Koblenz will also "speak" on behalf of those who will be unable to attend, according to Crocker, who explained "either because they are still imprisoned or afraid, or they cannot reach Europe or they have died as a result of torture."

T/S

ANHA