France Issues Arrest Warrant For Syria’s Al-Assad

French judicial authorities have issued international arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar Assad, his brother, and two army generals for alleged complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity, lawyers for Syrian victims said. The warrants include a 2013 chemical attack on rebel-held Damascus suburbs.

Welcoming the Move

A victim of the attack welcomed the move as a reminder of the horrors of Syria's civil war and urged countries where Assad might travel to arrest him. While he is unlikely to face trial in France, international warrants for a serving world leader are very rare and send a strong message about Assad's leadership at a time when some countries have welcomed him back into the diplomatic fold.

The Arrest Warrants

In addition to President Assad, the arrest warrants were issued for his brother, Maher Assad, the commander of the 4th Armored Division, and two Syrian army generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan, the lawyers said. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government on the warrants.

Significance of the Move

Jeanne Sulzer and Clemence Witt, lawyers at the Paris Bar who represent the plaintiffs, and non-governmental organizations behind the complaint, hailed the decision. They believe it marks a crucial milestone in the battle against impunity and signifies a positive evolution in case law recognizing the grave nature of the crimes committed.

The Investigation

The Paris prosecutors' office has not publicly commented on the arrest warrants, which remain secret under French law while an investigation is ongoing. More than 1,000 people were killed and thousands were injured in the August 2013 attacks on Douma and Eastern Ghouta. The investigation into the two chemical weapons attacks has been conducted under universal jurisdiction in France by a special unit of the Paris Judicial Court. It was opened in 2021 in response to a criminal complaint by the survivors, and filed by the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression.

Reactions from Victims and Activists

Mazen Darwish, the director of the center, called the warrants "a new victory for the victims, their families, and survivors" of the 2013 attacks. Alaa Makhzoumi, a survivor of the chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta, said the French decision is an initial step towards achieving justice and fulfilling the rights of all martyrs and victims lost that day. She hopes that all countries will contribute to the implementation of the decision by arresting Assad if they have the opportunity.

Other Complaints and Legal Challenges

In addition to France, complaints relating to the chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta in 2013 and Khan Shaykhun in 2017 were submitted to the authorities in Germany in 2020, and Sweden in 2021. The volume and detailed evidence in the Eastern Ghouta case filed in France convinced the judges that there is "serious or corroborating evidence making it likely" that President Assad, his brother Maher, and generals Abbas and Hassan, "took part in planning an execution of these attacks and bear individual criminal responsibility for the crimes," the NGOs behind the complaint in France said in a statement.

The international arrest warrants issued for Syrian President Bashar Assad, his brother, and two army generals send a strong message to the world about the gravity of the crimes committed during Syria's civil war. While the chances of Assad facing trial in France are slim, the move is seen as a crucial step towards achieving justice for the victims and survivors of the chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta and Douma. The ongoing investigations and legal challenges underscore the commitment of the international community to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable, regardless of their position or power.