Ex-Syrian intelligence chief found guilty of torture and sexual abuse by Austrian court
Summary
A court in Vienna, Austria found two former Syrian officials guilty of torture and sexual abuse against people who opposed President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The former head of intelligence in Raqqa and a former police chief were each sentenced to eight years in prison.Key Facts
- The trial took place in Vienna, where the court claimed jurisdiction over crimes committed in Syria.
- Khaled al-H., the former head of Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate in Raqqa from 2011 to 2013, was found guilty of torture and sexual abuse.
- Moussab Abou R., the former police chief in Raqqa, was also found guilty of similar abuses.
- Both men were accused of ordering or allowing torture to suppress protests against Assad’s regime.
- Victims testified they were beaten, shocked with electricity, and suffered lasting mental harm.
- The accused men applied for asylum in Austria in 2015.
- Reports say Khaled al-H. was brought to Austria with assistance from Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
- Both men have the right to appeal their eight-year prison sentences.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
