Austrian Court Convicts 2 Former Syrian Officials of Abuse

Austrian Tribunal Sentences Two Ex-Syrian Officials for Human Rights Violations

Prosecution Under Universal Jurisdiction

Austrian Court Convicts 2 Former Syrian – According to Tempo.CO, Jakarta, an Austrian court on Monday convicted two Syrian officials linked to the former regime of Bashar al-Assad for torturing political opponents. The charges, stemming from incidents over a decade ago, were pursued under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which enables courts to address crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity irrespective of their location or the involved parties’ nationalities. This marks the most recent instance of European courts prosecuting individuals tied to Syria’s ongoing conflict, which originated from the Arab Spring protests of 2010.

“The Angel of Death,”

Khaled al-Halabi, a general who led Raqqa’s General Intelligence Directorate from 2011 to 2013, received an eight-year prison term following testimonies from over a dozen survivors. The court previously convicted him of torture, severe physical harm, and sexual assault targeting 21 individuals during the same period. Victims described methods including head kicks, genital electrocution, and waterboarding. Abu Rukbah, a criminal investigator in Vienna, faced similar charges but was not convicted for torture. Prosecutors referred to him as ‘the Angel of Death,’ highlighting his role in the alleged abuses.

The court determined that both men had either ordered these acts, neglected to stop them, or executed them personally. They initially fled to Austria in 2015 through a covert collaboration between Israeli and Austrian intelligence agencies. Prior to the trial, they resided as refugees in the country. The verdict is subject to appeal, and both defendants maintained their innocence.

Al-Halabi contested the witness accounts, asserting he followed direct orders. Prosecutors likened this argument to the Nuremberg defense employed by Nazi war criminals, emphasizing its inadequacy in justifying atrocities from that era.

Raqqa’s Strategic Significance in the Civil War

Raqqa’s strategic significance in Syria’s civil war became evident as the conflict escalated in 2011. The city, located along the Euphrates River east of Aleppo, became a battleground after the uprising began. In 2013, Islamist rebel groups—including the al-Nusra Front under Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership—captured government forces, marking the first provincial capital to be seized by opposition troops. Soon after, fighters from other conflict zones like Aleppo, Homs, and Idlib converged there, and by 2014, the Islamic State (IS) had proclaimed Raqqa its de facto capital.

IS maintained dominance over Raqqa until 2017, when Kurdish-led forces, backed by U.S. military support, took control. The city, heavily damaged by relentless bombardment in the preceding years, was largely under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)’s political wing until January 2026. This persisted even after Bashar al-Assad’s government fell in December 2024. However, al-Sharaa’s faction swiftly reasserted control over approximately 80% of Kurdish-administered areas in the north and east, including Raqqa, during a January offensive.

Related News

Read: Emmanuel Macron Visits Syria, 18 Months After Assad’s Fall