German Court Sentences Syrian Doctor to Life for Torture, War Crimes

A German court sentenced Syrian doctor Alaa M. to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, including the torture and killing of political opponents during the Assad regime's rule in 2011-2012. The court found that Alaa M., who fled to Germany in 2015 and worked as an orthopedist, committed abuses at military hospitals in Damascus and Homs, including burning prisoners and inflicting severe physical torture. The ruling, delivered after a nearly three-and-a-half-year trial, marks a significant use of Germany's universal jurisdiction laws, which enable prosecution of war crimes regardless of where they were committed. Alaa M. denied the charges, claiming he was framed, but prosecutors presented extensive testimonies and evidence of systematic abuse. Victims and human rights groups hailed the verdict as a crucial step towards accountability for the Assad regime's crimes and a precedent for future trials. The court mandated preventive detention beyond the life sentence, underscoring the gravity of the offenses.