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A German regional court has sentenced a former Syrian military doctor, identified as Alaa M., to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and murder committed during the Syrian civil war.
The Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) of Frankfurt found that Alaa M. actively participated in the Assad regime’s campaign against opposition members by torturing and sexually abusing detainees, resulting in the deaths of two patients. The defendant was convicted of crimes against humanity in 10 cases, including eight involving torture, and was also found guilty of murder under German penal law.
The court detailed horrific acts, such as inflicting severe pain using medical instruments, performing surgeries without anesthesia, and mutilating patients’ genitalia by setting them on fire — acts which amounted to attempted forced sterilization. In one instance, Alaa M. administered a lethal injection with intent to intimidate opposition members, which was classified as murder driven by a “base motive.” Another victim, an epileptic patient, was deliberately given a fatal pill after being denied treatment, constituting homicide.
The judgment applied both national criminal law and international criminal law, specifically Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, recognizing the crimes as part of the widespread attacks on civilians by the Assad regime during a non-international armed conflict. Two acts were also categorized as war crimes because they took place in a military secret service prison.
This case was heard under the principle of universal jurisdiction, permitting German courts to prosecute international crimes without direct territorial or national links, a mechanism that has gained importance due to enforcement challenges faced by the ICC in Syria.
Based on testimony from over 50 witnesses, including former colleagues, the court imposed a life sentence without parole and security detention. The defense has announced plans to appeal, challenging the sufficiency and consistency of the evidence.
This verdict follows previous landmark convictions by German courts for crimes related to the Syrian conflict and highlights growing international efforts to hold perpetrators accountable despite geopolitical obstacles.
Excerpts from Jurist.com article by Juri Berger | Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, CH
