Inside the Alaa M. Trial #78: Those Who Live in Glass Houses…

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #78 Hearing Date: June 25 & 27, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #3: The Source

Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #3 Hearing Dates: June 5 & 6, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial;

Intensified deportation campaigns by Lebanon and Türkiye amid EU funding pledges

Anti-refugee sentiment has been on the rise over the past few years, especially in Lebanon and Türkiye, which host the largest populations of Syrian refugees. Yet, April 2024 witnessed the start of unprecedented deportation campaigns

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #77: Alpha Male Peacock

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #77 Hearing Date: June 10 & 11, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it

Human Rights Violations in Syria - May 2024

SJAC’s human rights violations map compiles data collected by our field team of documentation coordinators.

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #2: The First Witness’s Unsettling Video Documentation

Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #2 Hearing Dates: May 29 & 30, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial;

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #76: Made up Out of Thin Air

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #76 Hearing Date: June 4 & 6, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #75: Spirit of a Christian

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #75 Hearing Date: May 27 & 28, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #1: The First Day of the Proceedings

Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #1 Hearing Date: May 17, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it

Human Rights Violations in Syria - April 2024

Syrian Government Led Pillage of Civilian Property

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #73: Read Very Carefully and Comprehend!

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #73 Hearing Date: May 7 and 8, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial;

Militant Enterprises: The Jihadist Private Military Companies of Northwest Syria

Background: In 2015, the emergence of Malhama Tactical, a ‘jihadist’ private military company (PMC), marked the beginning of a new type of armed group entering the Syrian conflict. Where many groups once relied on foreign

To Each His Own – Immunities in International Law

On February 21, 2024, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) issued a decision on the prolongation of the pre-trial detention of Ahmad H. The Syrian national is indicted for crimes against humanity, war crimes

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #72: “He expresses his anger; he does not swallow it”

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #72 Hearing Date: April 15, 16, 18 & 19, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the

“She is Still a Child": Investigating Child Recruitment Practices by the Revolutionary Youth in NE Syria

Throughout the Syrian conflict, multiple armed factions have engaged in the recruitment of child soldiers. Groups gathered under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and affiliated organizations are no exception to this trend. This report investigates

PRIORITIES FOR THE BRUSSELS VIII CONFERENCE

Ahead of the 2024 Brussels VIII Conference, “Supporting the future of Syria and the region,” the Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC) is outlining its policy priorities for EU member states. 2024 PRIORITIES FOR THE

Forensic Trainers Visit Raqqa, Assess Potential for Missing Persons Identifications

Last month, two forensic experts from the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG) travelled to Raqqa and Qamishli to meet with the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team (SMFT) as well as SJAC’s missing persons

Financial Exclusion: The Struggle of Syrian Refugees in Europe

Marwa*, a Syrian refugee living in Belgium, faced a significant barrier to fully assimilating into Belgian society: her lack of a bank account. Opening a bank account in Europe is critical to participating in the

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #71: The Joker

Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #71 Hearing Date: March 19, 21 & 22, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial;