Germany is prosecuting a Syrian doctor on charges of torture and murder
The "Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main" issued a life sentence against the Syrian doctor Alaa M. after a trial that lasted nearly three and a half years, following his conviction for committing crimes against humanity, including murder and torture. The court described the crime as extremely serious, making early release after 15 years unlikely. The court also decided to place the defendant later in secure custody.
The court proved that the doctor, who is 40 years old, is responsible for the murder of two people and the torture of eight others between 2011 and 2012, while working at a military hospital in the Syrian city of Homs, as part of a group of doctors known as the "Extermination Group." The victims were civilians opposing the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad.
The court president, Judge Christoph Kohler, described the doctor's behavior during the sentencing as "sadistic," emphasizing that he enjoyed inflicting physical pain on those he deemed inferior. During the trial, the victims provided painful testimonies about the forms of torture they endured, which included beating, kicking, and even setting fire to wounds and limbs. Kohler confirmed that the courage of the witnesses was crucial in uncovering the truth, despite threats and pressures from the Syrian regime that attempted to influence the course of the trial.
Alaa M. had been living in Germany for ten years and worked in several hospitals as an orthopedic surgeon and trauma surgeon, with his last job in the city of Bad Wildungen in northern Hesse. He was identified in 2020 by his victims through a documentary about Homs, and was later arrested.
The case was heard over 186 sessions, under tight security measures due to potential threats from entities linked to the Syrian regime. The trial faced significant challenges, especially with attempts to influence witnesses or their families by Syrian intelligence agencies. At the beginning of the trial, Alaa M. tried to downplay his support for the Assad regime, but later electronic conversations from 2011 and 2012 were presented, showing his strong admiration for the dictator. Witnesses from his former colleagues confirmed this, stating that he kept a picture of Assad on his car window.
At the end of the trial, the doctor said he was "naive" and fell into the trap of the lion's propaganda, but he denied committing any of the crimes attributed to him, expressing his hope for acquittal and his desire to "live a peaceful life" with his family. The defense team claimed there was a mistake in identification.
The case was based on the principle of "universal jurisdiction" in international criminal law, which allows Germany to prosecute foreigners for war crimes committed outside its territory. This is the second ruling in Germany related to torture crimes committed in Syria, following a similar trial at the "Oberlandesgericht Koblenz".