BERLIN (AP) — A former member of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s secret police was convicted Wednesday by a German court of facilitating the torture of prisoners in a landmark ruling that human rights activists hope will set a precedent for other cases. It was the first time that a court outside Syria ruled in a case alleging Syrian government officials committed crimes against humanity. German prosecutors invoked the principle of universal jurisdiction for serious crimes to bring the case that involved victims and defendants who were in Germany. Evidence reviewed during the trial included photographs of thousands of alleged victims of torture by the Syrian government. Syrian government officials did not testify during the trial.

Source: Egypt Independent February 24, 2021 09:56 UTC