German court sentences former Syrian colonel to life in prison | Syria’s War News

Landmark ruling by court in Koblenz sees Anwar Raslan convicted for crimes against humanity in Damascus jail a decade ago.

A German court sentenced Anwar Raslan, a former Syrian colonel, to life in prison for committing crimes against humanity at a jail near Damascus a decade ago.

Thursday’s landmark ruling by the court in Koblenz marks a first step towards justice for countless Syrians who suffered abuse at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad’s government during the country’s years-long conflict.

It was the world’s first criminal case brought over state-led torture in Syria and Raslan, 58, is the highest-ranking former government official to be tried for atrocities committed there.

Prosecutors had argued Raslan supervised the “systematic and brutal torture” of more than 4,000 prisoners at the Al-Khatib prison in the Syrian capital between April 2011 and September 2012, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.

Raslan is alleged to have been a high-ranking security service officer under al-Assad as mass anti-government protests against his rule were violently crushed. He sought refuge in Germany after defecting from his post and deserting Syria in 2012.

This is a breaking news story … more to follow