Watan-A German court on Monday sentenced Syrian doctor Alaa Mousa to life in prison after finding him guilty of torturing political opponents of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The verdict came at the end of a lengthy trial that spanned more than three years at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt.
Dr. Mousa, aged 40, arrived in Germany in 2015 and worked as an orthopedic surgeon until his arrest in 2020. His identity and past were uncovered when Syrian refugees in Germany recognized him and reported that he had served at military hospitals in Damascus and Homs, where detainees were routinely tortured and abused.
The court found Mousa guilty of crimes against humanity, including the torture of at least 30 individuals, murder, sexual violence, and inflicting severe pain on injured protesters, sometimes under the guise of medical treatment. He reportedly killed one detainee by injecting a lethal substance into his heart and burned others’ genitals with alcohol or denied them anesthesia during procedures.
Landmark Conviction Exposes Syrian Doctor’s Role in Assad Regime Torture
Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes where Mousa participated in or oversaw acts of inhumane treatment. One Syrian refugee testified that Mousa said, “You’re an animal, and you don’t deserve treatment,” before torturing him.
The case is significant as it represents one of the first times a medical professional has been convicted for direct involvement in state-sponsored torture under Assad’s rule. It is part of a broader series of trials in Germany under the principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing the prosecution of war crimes regardless of where they occurred.
Human rights groups and Syrian activists hailed the sentence as a historic step toward justice and accountability for the tens of thousands of victims of Assad’s brutal security apparatus. Organizations like the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research helped document the case and supported victims throughout the trial.
Dr. Mousa had pleaded not guilty and denied all charges, claiming he was acting under pressure and had no intent to harm. However, the court rejected his defense, emphasizing the gravity and consistency of the victims’ testimonies.
This ruling joins a growing number of German convictions targeting former Syrian officials and collaborators, and strengthens ongoing efforts to hold Assad’s regime accountable internationally.
-
-
-
-
-
-
