Vienna court convicts two former Syrian officials of torture and abuse
A Vienna court has convicted two former Syrian security officials, including the former intelligence chief in Raqqa, of offenses including torture and sexual assault against opponents of Bashar Assad's government. The verdict was handed down under the principle of universal jurisdiction. It is part of a wave of European trials over Syria-era crimes.
A court in Vienna has convicted two former Syrian security officials of offenses including torture and sexual assault. One of the defendants had served as the former intelligence chief in the city of Raqqa.
According to the court, the crimes were committed against people who opposed the government of Bashar Assad. The case was heard under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a country to prosecute grave human-rights violations committed beyond its own borders.
The verdict is part of a series of European trials concerning crimes from the Syria era. Similar cases are proceeding in Germany and other countries, and they are seen as an important element of wider international accountability efforts.
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