International Criminal Law: Rifaat AL ASSAD to stand trial before the Federal Criminal Court
Bern, 12.3.2024 - On 11 March 2024, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland referred the former Vice-President of the Syrian Arab Republic and former officer of the Syrian army, Rifaat AL ASSAD, to the Federal Criminal Court for trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The accused is charged with ordering homicides, acts of torture, cruel treatments and illegal detentions in Syria in February 1982, in his capacity as commander of the defence brigades (Saraya al Difaa in Arabic) and commander of operations in Hama, within the context of the armed conflict and the widespread and systematic attack launched against the population of the city of Hama.