Man charged with crimes against humanity in Syria

In the first prosecution of its kind in the UK, a man has been charged with crimes against humanity, following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing’s War Crimes Unit.

After working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the man was served today with a Postal Charge Requisition in relation to international crimes allegedly committed in Syria.

The 58-year-old man, who now lives in the UK, has been charged in relation to his time working in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence (AFI) in Damascus.

He has been charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity (CAH), three counts of torture, and one offence of conduct ancillary to murder as a CAH.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 10 March.

The charges relate to demonstrations which took place in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, from April 2011. It is alleged that in his role he led a group tasked with quelling the demonstrations in the Jobar area which lies east of the city’s centre.

The investigation was led by the War Crimes Team, which is hosted by CTP London.

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads CTP London said:“This has been an incredibly complex and challenging investigation, involving enquiries across many countries.

“This has required close cooperation with a number of international partners, as well as our colleagues in the CPS.

“The charges are extremely serious and show that we fully support the UK’s ‘no safe haven’ policy in relation alleged war criminals. Where we are presented with allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity that fall within our jurisdiction, then, as we have shown here, we will not hesitate to investigate those rigorously and robustly.”

Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We have determined that a 58-year-old man should be prosecuted with charges of murder as a crime against humanity, and torture.

“Our prosecutors have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring seven offences under the International Criminal Court Act 2001 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

“We have worked closely with the War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police Service as they carried out their investigation.

“As always, we remind all concerned that proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Background to the investigation:

The CTP War Crimes Team received a referral in November 2020 containing allegations relating to an individual whilst serving as a member of the Syrian armed forces during the early 2010s.

The referral was assessed in line with the joint CTP and CPS War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity Referral Guidelines and an investigation was subsequently opened.

On 1 December, 2021 officers from the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team - part of the Counter Terrorism Command - visited an address in Buckinghamshire.

A man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of being involved in crimes against humanity and a search was also carried out at the address. The man was subsequently released on bail and after carrying out various further enquiries he was charged as above