Inside the Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. Trial #04: Quid Pro Quo?

TRIAL OF TWANA H.S. AND ASIA R.A.  Higher Regional Court – Munich, Germany     Trial Monitoring Summary #04    Hearing Date: June 24, 2025        CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other

Inside the Majdi N. Trial #4: Testimony of Context Witness Michel Duclos, W2, on the Reconciliation between France and the Assad Government before the Uprising

TRIAL OF MAJDI N. Court of Assize – Paris, France Trial Monitoring Summary #4  Hearing Date: May 5, 2025    CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts.   Note that this

Joint Position Paper Regarding the Temporary Electoral System for the Syrian Parliament

Decree No. (143): Reforming the Electoral System is a Prerequisite for a Parliament Capable of Supporting Political Transition Decree No. (143) of 2025, issued by the Transitional President of Syria regarding the temporary electoral system

Sacrificing the Innocent: The Use of Civilians as Human Shields in the Syrian Conflict

In this report, SJAC documents the repeated use of civilians and hostages as human shields in Syria, primarily by the Assad government, but also by opposition forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Conditions for safe and dignified voluntary return currently absent in Syria

Since the fall of the Assad government, EU member states have become increasingly vocal about the possibility of designating Syria as a safe country for the voluntary return of refugees and asylum seekers. Some states

Inside the Mzaik v. Syria Trial #1: Survivor’s Recollections of State-Sponsored Torture

MZAIK v. SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC United States District Court – District of Columbia – Washington, DC Trial Monitoring Summary #01 Hearing Dates: August 7, 2025  CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other

Attacks on Critical Infrastructure by the Assad Government

In a first, Dutch Court Awards Damages to Syrian Victim Based Upon SJAC’s Expert Report

Summary In a landmark decision for Syrian victims and survivors, the Hague Court of Appeal awarded €40,000 to a Syrian victim of torture. The Court upheld the conviction of Mustafa A., a former commander

Austria's First Deportation of a Syrian Asylum Seeker Sets Alarming Precedent

On July 7, 2025, Austria became the first EU country to deport a Syrian national to Syria since the start of the country’s conflict in 2011. The man, whose identity has not been made

Inside the Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. Trial #03: Becoming Perpetrators

TRIAL OF TWANA H.S. AND ASIA R.A. Higher Regional Court – Munich, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #03 Hearing Date: June 2 & 6, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #107: The Plaintiffs’ and the Defense’s Closing Arguments – And Alaa M.’s Last Word

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #107 Hearing Date: June 5, 2025  CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture.   Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of

WITNESS PROTECTION IN THE NETHERLANDS

Guide for Witnesses of Crimes Committed in Syria If you witnessed serious crimes committed in Syria, you might have valuable information for legal proceedings in the Netherlands. You may have reasonable concerns about your safety,

Inside the Majdi N. Trial #2: Detailed Report on the Case and Disagreement over a Timeline of the Syrian Conflict

TRIAL OF MAJDI N. Court of Assize – Paris, France   Trial Monitoring Summary #2 Hearing Dates: April 30 & May 6, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts.

The Assad Government Documents

The following report features a selection of the documents in SJAC’s collection, providing a preview of the type of evidence they contain and how they could support future justice processes.

Mzaik v. Syrian Arab Republic: Assad Government Found Guilty of Torturing American Citizen

Washington, DC: 08/14/2025 “This week’s ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reaffirms the systematic torture and abuse committed in Assad-era prisons,” said the Syria Justice and

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #106: The Prosecution’s Closing Statement

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #106 Hearing Date: May 27, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture.   Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of

Inside the Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. Trial #2: On Trial for the Second Time: The Previous Conviction of Twana H.S.

TRIAL OF TWANA H.S. AND ASIA R.A. Higher Regional Court – Munich, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #2 Hearing Date: May 26, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #105: The Defense’s Last Dispute

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #105 Hearing Date: May 20, 2025  CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture.   Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of

Inside the Majdi N. Trial #1: Opening of the Trial and Challenge to the Court’s Legitimacy

TRIAL OF MAJDI N.  Court of Assize – Paris, France  Trial Monitoring Summary #1  Hearing Dates: April 29 & 30, 2025  CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts.     Note

French Court Rules: Justice Begins Where Sovereignty Ends—even for Assad

See our article on the Court of Cassation’s hearing of July 4, 2025 While he held power in Damascus, French courts lacked the jurisdiction to issue an arrest warrant against Bashar Al-Assad for the

Searching for Missing Yazidis in Syria - Prospects for a Forensic Search Effort

Prospects for a Forensic Search Effort