THE HAGUE, April 22 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in the Netherlands on Wednesday demanded a 30-year prison sentence for a Syrian man accused of torturing and raping prisoners when he was a member of a
Dutch Seek 30-Year Prison Sentence for Syrian Man Accused of Torture and Rape
Prosecution and Legal Proceedings in the Netherlands
Charges and Allegations
THE HAGUE, April 22 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in the Netherlands on Wednesday demanded a 30-year prison sentence for a Syrian man accused of torturing and raping prisoners when he was a member of a militia that backed the government of former president Bashar al-Assad.
Prosecutors have charged 58-year-old Rafik A., whose last name is withheld by the Dutch court, with 25 counts including torture, sexual violence and rape as crimes against humanity against nine people in 2013 and 2014.
Denial of Involvement
Rafik A. has repeatedly denied any involvement with the alleged crimes. The case is the first in the Netherlands to deal with alleged atrocity crimes in Syria committed by pro-government forces. It is also the first time Dutch prosecutors have charged sexual violence as a crime against humanity.
International Context
Cases against Assad-era security officials have also been brought in other European countries, including Germany.
Testimonies and Evidence
Witness Accounts
Witnesses who survived the defendant's attacks spoke of the physical and psychological torture inflicted by A. during the trial.
Personal Testimony
"Not only did he tear my body apart, but he trampled on my soul. He was the worst nightmare of my life," one witness said, recounting that he entered detention as a child and emerged as a traumatised adult.
Background of the Accused
Prosecutors say Rafik A. was the head of the interrogation unit of the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Salamiyah, Syria, in 2013 and 2014. The NDF was a militia that fought on the side of the government of Assad, who was ousted in December 2024.
Rafik A. was arrested in 2023 in the Netherlands, where he had lived for several years as an asylum seeker.
Legal Framework and Next Steps
Universal Jurisdiction
Under the concept of universal jurisdiction, Dutch law broadly allows cases to be brought against foreign nationals for crimes committed abroad if the perpetrators or some of the victims are present in the Netherlands.
Upcoming Proceedings
Rafik A.'s lawyers and lawyers for his alleged victims will give their closing arguments on Thursday. The verdict is expected on June 9.
(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; additional reporting by Suban Abdulla; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
