Paris | 04 May 2026
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) welcomes the verdict issued today by the Solna District Court in Sweden, sentencing (M. S.) a 55 year-old Swedish-Palestinian-Syrian national defendant to life imprisonment for serious violations of international law committed in Syria between 2012 and 2013.
The Court found the defendant guilty of participating in two grave incidents during the armed conflict in Syria. These include his involvement in a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration in Yarmouk, Damascus, on 13 July 2012, which resulted in the killing and injury of civilians, as well as his role at a checkpoint in Yarmouk between December 2012 and the end July 2013. At this checkpoint, civilians were identified, detained, and transferred to Syrian security forces, where they were subjected to torture, inhuman treatment, and, in some cases, death.
The Court concluded that these acts formed part of the armed conflict in Syria and constituted serious violations of international law. Given the scale of harm inflicted on civilians, the Court classified the crimes as aggravated and imposed a life sentence.
It is worth noting that the defendant has three weeks from the date of the verdict to appeal to a higher Court.
SCM -as part of its ongoing efforts to support international justice and accountability for crimes committed in Syria- has played a pivotal role in supporting this case through its Strategic Litigation Team, providing substantial support to the case. This included the submission of a comprehensive documentation file, detailed analysis of command structures, and expert testimony before both investigative authorities and the Court. SCM’s contribution relied on a rigorous, multi-source documentation methodology, including witness testimonies, primary evidence, and verified open-source materials, in line with international standards.
The case was built through extensive international cooperation. Investigations relied on coordination between Swedish authorities and several European states, including Germany, with the support of Eurojust. Contributions from the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM), as well as the use of findings from United Nations bodies and civil society organizations, were instrumental in advancing the case.
“This verdict demonstrates that accountability for grave crimes committed in Syria is not only possible, but ongoing,” said Lawyer Mazden DARWISH SCM’s Founder and Director General. “It reflects the growing effectiveness of universal jurisdiction and the importance of sustained cooperation between national authorities, international mechanisms, and civil society actors. Each conviction sends a clear message that perpetrators of international crimes will continue to be pursued, regardless of where those crimes were committed.”
SCM calls on European states to build on this momentum by expanding the use of universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute serious international crimes committed in Syria. This includes strengthening the capacity of specialized war crimes units, ensuring sustained political and financial support for complex cross-border investigations, and enhancing cooperation with international mechanisms such as the IIIM. SCM further urges states to facilitate meaningful victim participation, protect witnesses, and ensure access to justice and reparations. Continued coordination between national jurisdictions, international bodies, and civil society actors remains essential to closing existing accountability gaps.
SCM also calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to play an active role in supporting these efforts by strengthening cooperation with national judicial authorities in countries exercising universal jurisdiction, as well as with relevant international mechanisms, including by facilitating access to relevant information and evidence. This would contribute to advancing accountability processes and ensuring the rights of victims/survivors. Continuous coordination between national authorities, international bodies, and civil society organizations remains essential to closing existing accountability gaps and enhancing the effectiveness of efforts aimed at achieving justice.
This verdict represents a significant step toward justice for victims and survivors and reaffirms the central role of universal jurisdiction in addressing international crimes where domestic remedies remain unavailable.
SCM reiterates its commitment to supporting victims and survivors, advancing accountability efforts, and contributing to the prosecution of perpetrators of serious human rights violations through all available legal avenues.
