World of war trial

These include some 30, images smuggled out of Syria by a former military photographer code-named Caesar. A forensic examination of these images shows that detainees were beaten with blunt and sharp objects, shot, and exposed to electric shocks and burns.

The Caesar photos form an important part of the evidence, not only in the case against Anwar Raslan, but in future cases to come. The next trial in Germany is due to start a week from today, and criminal complaints against high-ranking members of the Syrian government have been filed in four European countries that allow universal jurisdiction. Prosecuting these cases has created a need for authorities to work more closely with Syrian refugee communities.

In this workshop in Berlin, Syrians now living in eight countries across Europe are being instructed by Professor Thomas Wenzel on how to collect evidence that would hold up in court and how to encourage potential witnesses to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement.

All of the workshop participants used to be legal professionals in Syria. It's not the greatest picture, but you can tell from the ruler placed next to it exactly that it is six centimeters. You wouldn't be able to do this by simply taking a picture.

This kind of basic documentation is useful in court. Workshop organizer Usahma Felix Darrah believes the trial in Koblenz has been a watershed moment, and that it is paving the way for Syrians to play a crucial part in the quest for justice through national courts in Europe. This is the only type of justice, semblance of justice that many Syrians have seen, in nine years of a very, very bitter war.

The war is still ongoing, and we have Syrians who are actually playing a role in making accountability happen. Our plan is, of course, to document testimonies of survivors, of victims, and of witnesses, and to systematize those in a manner that can be usable in a court of law. When speaking with a witness, we always need to ask, was a doctor there? If a doctor stands by when someone is being tortured, and says, stop, now you need to take a break, and now you can continue, that doctor is classed as a torturer.

Even advocates say that it's too early to determine if these efforts are scalable, and whether European courts using universal jurisdiction will become a routine alternative to international tribunals in prosecuting war crimes cases. But, back in Koblenz, Hussein Ghrer is clear that, under the circumstances, this process is the best way forward. He's on his way to court to give his closing statement in the case against Anwar Raslan.

I feel nervous. It's the first time ever that there's a case against a member of the Syrian regime, and it's unusual that a plaintiff like me gets to give a closing statement in front of the judges. Inshallah, I can deliver my message inside. The state prosecutor has called for a life sentence for Anwar Raslan, with no possibility of parole after 15 years. Should Raslan be found guilty, it would set a precedent, marking the first time in history that a high-ranking officer of a government that is still in power is convicted of crimes against humanity.

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Overwatch League. Log In. Races Classes Talents. Warcraft Lore. Arena World Championship. Mythic Dungeon International. WoW Classic New. Log in. Try Free. New WoW Classic. Play WoW Free to Level Download WoW. Learn more about the Free Trial. Short Stories. The Story of Warcraft. Eric Weddle. World News. By Clyde Hughes. Demonstrators hold signs opposing the Syrian regime on Thursday outside the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany, after it convicted former secret police officer Anwar Raslan ofwar crimes.

German prosecutors decided to try the case under a law of "international jurisdiction" to bring some measure of justice that's unlikely to come as long as dictator Bashar al Assad, pictured, is in power. Topics Law and Crime Assad. Latest Headlines. Eastern U. FDA deregulates French dressing.