A 48-year-old Syrian man appeared in court Monday before the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany, facing charges of crimes against humanity and for the torture and deaths of 70 prisoners in Damascus.
German authorities arrested the suspect in late May 2025 in the southwestern city of Pirmasens. He has remained in pretrial detention since then, awaiting the start of proceedings, according to local media reports.
Prosecutors allege the man, called “Fahad A” in some documents, served as a guard at the “Khatib Branch” detention facility in Damascus, operated by the Assad regime’s General Intelligence Directorate.
The indictment states that his service lasted from late April 2011 to mid-April 2012, a period marked by widespread unrest. The Syrian revolution began in March 2011 and quickly escalated as government forces responded with force, leading to mass arrests and allegations of systematic abuse.
Allegations of Abuse Inside Detention Facility
According to prosecutors, the defendant took part in over 100 interrogations during his time at the facility. Detainees subjected to these interrogations reportedly endured severe physical abuse. The indictment also links the detention conditions and alleged mistreatment to the deaths of at least 70 prisoners during the period in question.
Prosecutors argue that the conditions inside the facility contributed directly to those deaths. The court has not yet determined the defendant’s guilt, and proceedings are expected to examine witness testimony and documentary evidence related to the alleged acts.
Arrest in Germany and Legal Context
Authorities say the suspect entered Germany in 2023. Investigators later identified him as part of Syria’s security apparatus, similar to defendants in earlier cases brought before German courts. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.
The case reflects Germany’s application of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred. This trial marks the third case of its kind heard in Koblenz, where courts have previously addressed allegations of torture and abuse tied to the Assad regime.
German prosecutors have pursued several such cases in recent years, focusing on violations taken during the early stages of the Syrian conflict. The proceedings form part of broader international efforts to document alleged abuses and seek accountability through legal channels.
