Documenting the Syrian War at Trial

A Comparative Analysis of Recent Universal Jurisdiction Cases in France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States of America

The report "Documenting the Syrian War at Trial" provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of Universal Jurisdiction (UJ) proceedings addressing atrocity crimes committed during the Syrian conflict, based on the monitoring of fifteen Syria-related criminal trials conducted between 2020 and 2025 across France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States by the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC). Drawing on first-hand observations from trial monitoring and an analysis of witness testimony and court documents, it evaluates how Western jurisdictions have navigated the legal, procedural, and practical challenges inherent to adjudicating complex international crimes committed extraterritorially in Syria. The report’s value lies in its empirical depth, its cross-jurisdictional perspective, and its focus on the lived experience of Syrian victims and witnesses within foreign legal systems.

Read our previous study: Universal Jurisdiction Under Scrutiny: A Quantitative Analysis of 250+ Syrian Cases