Arrests Made in Germany and Sweden for Crimes in Syria

Authorities in Germany and Sweden have made significant progress in arresting individuals suspected of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Syria between 2012 and 2014. In a joint operation involving the European Union’s judicial cooperation agency Eurojust and the EU police agency Europol, seven individuals have been apprehended.

The German federal prosecutor revealed that four suspects were detained in Germany, with three others arrested in Sweden. The arrests were carried out based on suspicions of killing and attempting to kill civilians, as well as engaging in acts of torture.

The four individuals captured in Germany, identified as Jihad A., Mahmoud A., Sameer S., and Wael S., were associated with the Free Palestine Movement, an armed militia in Syria, during the specified period. The militia held control over the al-Yarmouk district in Damascus on behalf of the Syrian regime.

Allegations against the suspects include their involvement in a violent crackdown on a peaceful protest in al-Yarmouk in July 2012, where civilian protesters were targeted and shot at. Other reported crimes include severe abuse of civilians and involvement in handing individuals over to the Syrian Military Intelligence Service for torture.

Three of the arrested suspects in Germany are stateless Syrian Palestinians, while one is a Syrian national. The suspects are due to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice for further legal proceedings.

In Sweden, the Prosecution Authority has also made arrests in connection with the crimes. Details regarding the detainees in Sweden have not been disclosed yet, and a decision on their detention or release is expected to be made soon.