Inside the Mahmoud S. Trial #04: Closed Doors
TRIAL OF Mahmoud S.
Stockholm District Court – Stockholm, Sweden
Trial Monitoring Summary #04
Hearing Date: November 17, 18, and 20, 2025
CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts.
Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it is merely an unofficial summary of the proceedings.
Throughout this summary, [information located in brackets are notes from our trial monitor] and “information placed in quotes are statements made by the witness, judges or counsel.” The names and identifying information of witnesses have been redacted.
[Note: SJAC provides a summary of the proceedings while redacting certain details to protect witness privacy and to preserve the integrity of the trial.]
Trial Monitoring reports of the Mahmoud S. trial are a result of a partnership between the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, the University of Stockholm, Sweden, and the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT).
SJAC’s 4th trial monitoring report details days 11, 12, and 13 of the trial of Mahmoud S. in Stockholm, Sweden. SJAC was unable to monitor the first day of this week. The second and third days were held behind closed doors. The reasons for the exclusion of the public remain unknown.
Day 11 – November 17, 2025
[Note: SJAC was unable to monitor this trial day due to illness.]
The trial of Mahmoud S. will resume on November 18, 2025.
Day 12 – November 18, 2025
Today, the Court engaged in a fairly long discussion, attempting to get hold of one of the Plaintiffs, who turned out to still be in [redacted location]. Following this confusion, prolonged attempts to contact the next plaintiff to be heard instead, and discussions about when to schedule the plaintiff who was not in Sweden. There was then a long recess, and I was informed that the proceedings would be held behind closed doors.
[Note: The rules on hearings behind closed doors in Sweden are based on the Code of Judicial Procedure and the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act. The Court decides whether to hold a hearing behind closed doors in sensitive cases, according to Chapter 5, Section 1 of the Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure. The Court’s decision to hold the hearing in closed session is supported by grounds for secrecy (for example, to protect the investigation). Relevant provisions may include Chapter 35, Sections 12, 12a, 13, and 17, or Chapter 36, Sections 1 and 2 of the Swedish Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act.
Most often, a decision to hold a hearing behind closed doors applies only to a limited part of the proceedings. The hearing is reopened to the public once the protected information or examinations have been concluded. It remained unknown to the monitor on which grounds the public was excluded on this trial day.]
Day 10 – November 13, 2025
[Note: Note: Today’s hearing was held behind closed doors. It remained unknown to the monitor on which grounds the public was excluded on this trial day.]
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