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German Court to Begin Trial of Syrian ‘Torture Doctor’ Wednesday

Anwar Raslan (right) in the Koblenz Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity he committed in Damascus (Reuters)
Anwar Raslan (right) in the Koblenz Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity he committed in Damascus (Reuters)
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German Court to Begin Trial of Syrian ‘Torture Doctor’ Wednesday

Anwar Raslan (right) in the Koblenz Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity he committed in Damascus (Reuters)
Anwar Raslan (right) in the Koblenz Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity he committed in Damascus (Reuters)

A week after a German court in the western city of Koblenz closed the trial of the first high-ranking Syrian official on charges of crimes against humanity, preparations began in another court in Frankfurt to try another Syrian figure accused of war crimes.

The Frankfurt Regional High Court in Germany announced that it would begin the trial of Syrian doctor Alaa Moussa, who is accused of committing acts of torture and murdering injured people detained by regime intelligence services inside military and civilian hospitals.

Starting on Wednesday, the accused must respond to questioning by the Supreme Regional Court (OLG) in Frankfurt, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity in Syria.

The German federal prosecutor’s office has accused Alaa Moussa of torturing prisoners in a military hospital and a military intelligence prison in Homs between 2011 and 2012.

The prosecutor also charged Moussa with murdering patients by lethal injection and causing serious bodily harm and psychological damage to opposition detainees.

On June 19th, 2020, German authorities arrested Moussa on suspicion of involvement in torture and crimes against humanity committed in Syria against detainees in Assad regime prisons.

The German Public Prosecution requested an arrest warrant against Moussa after reviewing evidence collected by the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research. The compiled evidence proves that prisoners had been tortured by Moussa.

The Syrian doctor faces charges of killing a prisoner and torturing 18 other people.

Nine witnesses who were tortured at the hands of a doctor who worked in military hospitals in Homs and Damascus will testify in the case.

The Center, which is headed by Syrian attorney and activist Anwar al-Bana, has been collecting evidence against Syrian criminals for years.

It also helped build the file that led to the conviction of the Syrian officer, Anwar Raslan. Raslan was sentenced to life in prison last Thursday.

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Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
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Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)

Baghdad has been preoccupied this week with serious possibilities that Israel may expand its war on Gaza and Lebanon by striking several targets in Iraq in retaliation to attacks by Iran-backed armed factions.

Concern has been high that Israel may attack government buildings, oil fields and strategic locations, not just the positions of the armed factions that have previously launched attacks against Israel, said sources close to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework.

Media sources have spoken of government speculation that Iraq could come under “300 Israeli attacks”.

The fears in Iraq have been compounded by an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council against seven armed factions and holding Baghdad responsible for the attacks they have carried out against it.

This prompted the government, through the foreign ministry, to send an official letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation in response to the Israeli threats.

The ministry said on Saturday that Iraq is “the cornerstone of stability in the region and world and it is one of the countries that are most committed to the UN Charter.”

“The Zionist entity’s letter to the Security Council is part of a systematic policy aimed at creating claims and excuses in an attempt to expand the conflict in the region.”

It said Iraq has turned to the Security Council out of Iraq’s keenness on the international body carrying out its duty in maintaining international peace and security and the need to rein in the “Zionist aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Moreover, it stressed that Iraq has been keen on exercising restraint when it comes to the use of its airspace to attack a neighboring country.

Israel has used Iraqi airspace to launch attacks against Iran in October.

Iraq underscored the importance of the international community stepping in to “stop this hostile behavior that is a flagrant violation of international law.”

It called for international efforts to stop the Israeli escalation in the region and ensure that international laws and treaties are respected to consolidate security and stability.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coordination Framework said the main Shiite parties are taking the Israeli threats “very seriously”, urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government to take “all the necessary measures to avert a potential Israeli strike.”

All leaders of armed factions, as well as Shiite leaders, have taken up alternative locations and are moving under great secrecy, confirming that they have changed the majority of their military positions, said the source.

It also dismissed claims that Israeli jets have overflown Iraq, saying nothing has been confirmed, but not ruling out the possibility, especially since US forces have control over Iraqi skies and Iraq is helpless against stopping these violations.

Iraq had submitted a formal complaint to the UN and Security Council over Israel’s use and violation of its airspace to attack Iran.

Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said the pro-Iran armed factions have been gathering their forces in the Sinjar province, which is strategic for Iran’s arms deliveries and logistic support to Syria where attacks can be carried out against American forces and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Sinjar is one of the most important strategic bases for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the armed factions insist on continuing the war against Israel, rejecting government calls for calm and neutrality.

The government’s statements are aimed at delivering a message that it “is not directly responsible for the strategy of these factions,” which follow Iran’s policies.

Iraq has repeatedly said that it refuses for its territory to be used to attack another country, but some observers believe that it may allow Iran to do so should Israel strike.