Rifaat Assad Faces War Crimes Charges in Switzerland for 1982 Hama Massacre
Swiss federal prosecutors have formally charged Rifaat Assad, the uncle of Syria’s current leader, with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The allegations stem from his purported involvement in the 1982 massacre in Hama, where security forces under his command brutally suppressed an Islamist uprising, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Rifaat Assad, now 86, has lived a life of luxury in exile, notably in France, where he resided in an opulent mansion until a recent conviction for misuse of Syrian state funds saw him sentenced to four years in prison. Despite this, his return to Syria was facilitated by his nephew, President Bashar Assad, following the French ruling.
The case against Assad was propelled by the advocacy group Trial International, invoking the principle of “universal jurisdiction.” This legal principle allows for the prosecution of severe crimes outside the country where they occurred.
Despite the likelihood of Assad not physically attending the trial in Switzerland, the indictment marks a significant moment for the victims of the Assad regime’s long history of repression and violence. The Swiss prosecutors plan to bring the case before the federal criminal court in Bellinzona, although a trial date has yet to be announced.
