The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has upheld a ruling by the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court against a Syrian man for crimes against humanity. The man must serve a life sentence for participating in looting, raids, and arrests during the civil war. People were also tortured and killed in the process. The ruling is final.
Attacks by a Shiite Militia
The court found that the defendant, who was 20 years old at the time, had joined a local Shiite militia in his hometown of Busra Al Sham shortly after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Between 2012 and 2014, he participated in the crimes of which he was accused. With the help of such militias, the Assad regime took violent action against alleged enemies of the state, according to a statement from the Federal Court of Justice.
Principle of universal jurisdiction applied
The Federal Court of Justice found no substantial legal errors in the Higher Regional Court’s ruling. Consequently, the defendant’s appeal was dismissed. German criminal law is applicable to the case, even though the crimes took place in Syria and the defendant is not a German citizen. This follows from the principle of universal jurisdiction, the Federal Court of Justice explained. It can be applied to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Source and further information:
https://www.bundesgerichtshof.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2026/2026143.html?nn=373332
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/gesellschaft/bgh-kriegsverbrechen-syrien-100.html
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