Syrian Suspect Denies Torture Charges at Hague Trial

Trial opens in The Hague

A 58-year-old Syrian man identified as Rafiq al Q. denied dozens of charges, including torture and sexual violence, at the opening of his trial at the District Court of The Hague. Prosecutors say he was a member of the pro‑Assad National Defence Force and served as the group's lead interrogator during Syria's civil war; nine victims have brought accusations against him. Speaking through an interpreter, the defendant called the allegations a conspiracy, accused the victims, witnesses and Dutch police of lying, and said he had worked as a civil servant in Salamiyah. During the hearing he attempted to present evidence personally, and his lawyer, André Seebregts, said it was unclear what the material was.

Context and next steps

The case is being tried under universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to prosecute international crimes committed abroad; the defendant claimed asylum in the Netherlands in 2021 and was arrested in Druten in 2023. The Netherlands has previously prosecuted Syrians for war crimes and crimes against humanity and, along with Canada, has taken a separate case to the International Court of Justice alleging a campaign of torture by Damascus. Hearings will continue for about two weeks and the court is expected to issue a verdict on June 9 as reported by AP News

This story has also been reported by: Reuters, ABC News, The Syrian Observer