{"id":208549,"date":"2026-04-30T14:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scm.bz\/?p=208549"},"modified":"2026-04-30T14:40:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:40:05","slug":"the-trial-of-the-head-of-the-investigation-department-of-the-national-defence-forces-ndf-in-salamiyah-held-in-the-hague-netherlands-monitoring-summary-for-days-three-and-four-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scm.bz\/en\/the-trial-of-the-head-of-the-investigation-department-of-the-national-defence-forces-ndf-in-salamiyah-held-in-the-hague-netherlands-monitoring-summary-for-days-three-and-four-en\/","title":{"rendered":"The trial of the Head of the Investigation Department of the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Salamiyah, held in The Hague, Netherlands – Monitoring Summary for Days three and Four."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hearings 13th and 14th of April 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 3 – (13 April 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third hearing day focused on the remaining charges concerning three complainants, identified in court as H, F, and D, and then turned to the accused\u2019s personal circumstances, including discussion of a psychiatric assessment report. From the outset, the court made clear that the day would cover allegations relating to torture, physical abuse, and, in one instance, sexual violence as crimes against humanity. The accused again rejected the allegations in full and repeated his broader claim that the complainants were connected to Ahrar al-Salamiyah and were participating in a coordinated effort to falsely implicate him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the session, the accused complained that parts of his case file had been blacked out and that, because he did not understand Dutch, he was dependent on translators and unable to access the material properly. The court responded that it had the same version of the file and said that any issues concerning redactions could be addressed later by the defence. The presiding judge nevertheless gave the accused a limited opportunity to explain his position that the witnesses were acting against him as part of a conspiracy. In that initial narrative, he spoke at length about Salamiyah, local protest dynamics, armed opposition factions, and individuals whom he linked to later events. The court repeatedly tried to keep him focused on the specific charges under discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court then turned to H\u2019s statements. According to the judge\u2019s summary, H said he had participated in anti-government protests from 2011 onwards, had no particular political affiliation beyond opposing the Syrian regime, and later surrendered himself after his brother had been detained and he was given a deadline to report. He said he was taken to a location described as a farm near Salamiyah, where he was blindfolded, tied, insulted, and violently interrogated. His account included prolonged beatings, forced exposure to cold after the beatings, suspension in an inverted position, kicking, blows with military footwear, and the insertion of a gun into his anus during interrogation, combined with threats that his fingers would be cut off and his fingerprints forced onto documents. He also described long-lasting injuries, especially to his left shoulder and nose, and said he did not initially even know what he was accused of. On identification, H stated that he recognized the accused primarily through voice and from a brief glimpse from under the blindfold, describing a broad-browed man wearing glasses, of shorter and heavier build, and said that later contextual details led him to conclude with near certainty that the accused was the interrogator. The court also referred to corroborative points from related files, including statements that H and the other detainees had visible injuries and that public-source material and social media posts appeared to support the fact of arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court next addressed F\u2019s file, which was presented as closely linked to H\u2019s. F stated that he was a teenager at the time. He described how National Defence Forces personnel came in multiple vehicles, surrounded the area, and eventually took his father in order to force him to surrender. After he gave himself up, he said he was taken to detention and subjected to repeated interrogations over several days. His account included beatings all over the body, threats to kill him and his family, the pouring of hot water over him after he lost consciousness, kicks to the head and face, injuries to the eye and jaw, blows to the genitals and buttocks, hanging in an inverted position, electric cables, and forced fingerprinting on documents whose contents he did not know. He also said that at one point he tried to free his hands, remove the blindfold, and beg the accused to stop. He identified the accused through prior familiarity, saying the accused had been a customer at his father\u2019s vegetable stall, as well as by voice and by what he could see through the blindfold during the interrogations. The court further referred to the statements of D and H about F\u2019s appearance after the abuse, including swelling, blood, and visible weakness. Medical material in the file was also mentioned, indicating lasting physical pain, disc and vertebral damage, ankle injury, and serious psychological consequences including trauma. The court additionally referred to public Facebook material recording F\u2019s arrest and later release, and to a visual record in which he was allegedly identifiable among persons arrested by the NDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The material concerning D appears in the second uploaded file, beginning with a continuation from the first file. The court referred to public-source research showing that a Facebook group associated with Ahrar Salamiyah had posted in October 2013 that 143 persons were arrested in Salamiyah, and that D\u2019s name appeared on that list with the date 20 October 2013. The prosecution then questioned the accused about statements he had previously made regarding D and the group to which he belonged. In particular, the prosecution pressed him on how he knew that D\u2019s group had been taken to Damascus by Fadel al-Warda, and how he knew they had been treated well in that official\u2019s office. The accused answered that he had explained this before and said he had heard it from the district director, whom he quoted as being angry that prior local measures had been disrupted by Fadel al-Warda\u2019s intervention. The prosecution challenged him on the source of this knowledge and whether he had witnessed any of it himself. The exchange was notable because it exposed the accused\u2019s tendency to make factual assertions while resisting clear attribution of where his information came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When given a further opportunity to respond to the allegations involving H, F, and D, the accused continued to deny personal involvement and shifted repeatedly into broader attacks on the witnesses. He argued, among other things, that H\u2019s account of being taken only two kilometres did not fit the geography of the alleged detention site, that F\u2019s age was uncertain because birth registrations in Syria were sometimes recorded late and standardized at the start of a year, and that the three complainants were tied to armed factions or opposition actors. He tried several times to address the witnesses directly, to accuse them of involvement in killings, kidnappings, or cooperation with armed groups, and to challenge their credibility by reference to persons and events in Salamiyah. The court interrupted him more than once, reminding him that he had to address the bench rather than confront the witnesses directly. At one stage he added that questions of injuries and bodily traces should be left to medical experts rather than decided on the basis of what was merely heard or observed in testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prosecution also drew attention to an interpretive report in the case file concerning repeated Arabic honorifics used in the witness statements, particularly \u201csidi,\u201d \u201cmu\u2018allim,\u201d and \u201custadh\u201d, and explained that these terms can convey authority, rank, or social status, including in military settings. This appears to have been relevant to how witnesses described the role or status of perpetrators in their narratives. The prosecution also indicated that additional texts relating to one witness had been received but had not yet formally been before the court, and the bench said such materials could be addressed later during closing submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing the discussion of the remaining allegations, the court moved to the accused\u2019s personal circumstances. The judges referred to his arrest in December 2021, his ongoing complaints about prison conditions, his anger toward the justice system and police, and the fact that he had been assessed by psychiatric professionals. The court summarized a report from the Pieter Baan Centre, noting that an earlier doctor had observed symptoms suggesting post-traumatic stress, but that the later forensic assessment had not been able to establish a clear psychiatric disorder or PTSD with certainty. The court said the report described him as generally stable, deliberate in his behaviour, cooperative during the assessment, and presenting himself as a person of status, while also observing emotional intensity and a limited capacity for empathy. It was also noted that the researchers did not find a mental condition that would have affected his conduct in relation to the charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The accused rejected that assessment. He said his psychological condition had been ignored for 28 months, complained again that everything in prison came to him in Dutch, and said he remained wholly dependent on translators whose accuracy he could not verify. He also criticized the report\u2019s methods, denied a translated statement suggesting that he accepted violence under some circumstances, and objected to the pressure placed on his family by repeated police contact. When asked more directly what he thought of the medical conclusions, he mocked one of the researchers and argued that such a person could not credibly assess whether he suffered from PTSD. He nevertheless stated that if the witnesses were telling the truth, then what happened to them was deeply regrettable; but if they were lying, then it was shameful that the government and court were occupied with such a case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hearing was also marked by frequent friction over procedure. The judges repeatedly reminded the accused to keep his answers brief, not to turn his responses into speeches, and not to speak directly to the witnesses. At one point, the livestream was temporarily paused because someone in the public gallery needed to leave. By the end of the day, the court indicated that it had now discussed the remaining factual allegations for that session and had also covered the accused\u2019s personal situation. It further indicated that the next procedural stage would involve the prosecution\u2019s submissions, after which the accused would again have an opportunity to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Victim\u2019s day -Day 4 ( 14th of April 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hearing focused primarily on the statements of the injured parties, with several victims addressing the court directly through their legal representative and, in some instances, through personal statements. The session was marked by a strong emphasis on the impact of the alleged crimes, both at an individual and collective level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the outset, the victims\u2019 lawyer, representing nine individuals (seven of whom were present in court), framed the proceedings within the broader context of the Syrian uprising in 2011. Many of the victims had participated in peaceful demonstrations in Salamiyah during the early stages of the Arab Spring, calling for basic rights, democratic reform, and the release of detainees. These protests, the lawyer stressed, were met with violent repression, leading to arrests, detention, and widespread practices of torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A central theme throughout the hearing was the contrast between the victims\u2019 accounts and the version of events presented by the accused. The victims\u2019 representative emphasized that the individuals concerned were not affiliated with armed groups but were ordinary civilians engaged in peaceful protest. In this context, the credibility of the accused\u2019s narrative – portraying a different reality – was repeatedly challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court heard detailed descriptions of the role of the National Defence Forces (NDF), which the accused is alleged to have joined. The NDF operated as a loosely structured militia, often composed of individuals with criminal backgrounds and motivated, at least in part, by financial gain. Testimonies referred to practices including looting, arbitrary arrests, and extortion, with detainees\u2019 release allegedly conditioned on the payment of significant sums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victims\u2019 accounts, as summarized in court, described a consistent pattern of detention conditions and methods of abuse. These included blindfolding, binding with cable ties, forced positions, and systematic humiliation. Several statements referred to the accused as playing a leading role in interrogations, giving orders, and directly participating in acts of violence. Victims described being forced to address him using terms denoting authority, reinforcing the hierarchical and coercive environment of detention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Particular attention was given to the use of humiliation and psychological violence as integral components of the alleged conduct. Witnesses described being insulted, degraded, and forced into dehumanizing acts, including being made to behave \u201clike animals\u201d for the amusement of guards. One victim reportedly described the accused as deriving visible satisfaction from the suffering of detainees, while another stated that torture was often inflicted not for the purpose of obtaining information, but for entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hearing also highlighted the collective dimension of the alleged crimes. Victims described how torture was deliberately made visible and audible to others, amplifying fear and psychological suffering among detainees. This aspect was explicitly linked to broader jurisprudence (Verscher case) recognizing that exposure to the suffering of others can itself constitute a form of torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to physical abuse, several accounts referred to sexual violence and gender-based harm, particularly affecting female detainees. The statements emphasized the long-term psychological consequences of such acts, including trauma, social stigma, and lasting impacts on personal and family life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A significant portion of the session was devoted to victim impact statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S.<\/strong> expressed gratitude to the Dutch court for the opportunity to be heard, while also directly challenging the accused\u2019s portrayal of his own situation. Referring to the accused\u2019s complaints about detention conditions, S. contrasted these with his own experience: \u201cHe must have forgotten what he did to me\u2026 how I was confined in a 3-square-meter cell\u2026 we were deprived of sleep\u2026 no food for days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He rejected any comparison between the accused\u2019s current detention and the conditions endured by victims, stating: \u201cHe has no right to compare himself to this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, S. emphasized that, regardless of the outcome of the proceedings: \u201cNo verdict will change my life or give me back what I lost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M.<\/strong>, who was not present in court due to the psychological impact of the events, explained that the prospect of confronting the accused remained overwhelming. The victim described how the experience of detention continued to shape their daily life: \u201cI was afraid to be arrested again\u2026 this feeling is still here, even in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D.<\/strong>, who chose not to speak directly in court, even if he was present, had his statement read by his lawyer. He framed his testimony not only as a personal account, but as representing a broader collective experience: \u201cI stand here not only for myself\u2026 I am the echo of the voices of those who disappeared, tortured, raped and killed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He described the accused as: \u201cthe worst nightmare in my life,\u201d and highlighted the long-term psychological consequences, including anxiety and sleep disorders. His statement also emphasized the symbolic importance of the proceedings:  \u201cThe law is the last refuge people have to restore their dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/strong> focused in particular on issues of justice and reparations. He told the court he wished to share his \u201cdeep feelings regarding the injustice\u201d he had suffered, stressing that the consequences of his detention continued to affect every aspect of his life, including his health, financial stability, and psychological well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being before the court, he said he did not feel that his rights had been fully respected: \u201cI still feel a very deep sense of sadness and injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A. explained that revisiting his experiences throughout the proceedings caused painful memories to resurface, including the fear of dying in detention and never seeing his children again. He also recalled the suffering his family endured during his imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A central concern of his statement was the issue of reparations. He questioned the requirement to prove material losses in a context where lives, homes, and dignity had been systematically destroyed: \u201cWhat rights are we talking about then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cToday you asked me for proof\u2026 how can I think you believe me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasized that the losses he had suffered were \u201cenormous in every aspect\u201d and that the current compensation framework did not reflect the reality of the harm endured. While estimating his losses at around EUR 100,000, he stated that even partial compensation would represent a form of recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded by reaffirming his sense of injustice, describing himself as \u201cstill a victim of injustice,\u201d while at the same time expressing hope that the court would carefully assess his case and deliver a meaningful judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.<\/strong> began by thanking the court for its efforts, stating that he appeared \u201cas a person who experienced horrendous things,\u201d carrying \u201cdeep scars\u201d that he had borne silently for years. He described his detention as marked by inhumane conditions, uncertainty about his fate, and a constant fear that he might not survive. He framed his presence in court as an opportunity to be heard and to contribute to truth-telling: \u201cI am not here to seek revenge.. I am here as a victim to bring the truth to light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called on the court to assess the victims\u2019 experiences \u201cwith honesty and humanity,\u201d as a necessary step toward restoring part of what had been lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded by framing the case as more than a legal process, \u201cThis court case is not merely legal, it is a step towards acknowledging what happened,\u201d adding that he was now trying to move forward and rebuild his life, while expressing hope that justice would ultimately be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H.<\/strong> provided a broader reflection on the role of the National Defence Forces and the systemic nature of the violence. He described the militia as operating without rules or accountability, driven by power and financial motives, and characterized the violence as \u201ca sadistic ritual\u2026 they took pleasure in the suffering of others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recalling his own experience, he stated \u201cI can still feel the barrel of his gun in my mouth\u2026 \u2018Do you want to smell gunpowder? He tortured me, with whatever came to his hands. He turn objects around us in instrument of torture\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was above the law, and he believed he would remain above the law here as well. The fact that he is now behind bars will not erase what happened, but it will help prevent what could happen in the future\u2026He continues to pose a danger, not only because he was part of the regime, but because he freely chose to become an instrument of torture, someone who took pleasure in inflicting pain. He is a danger for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout history, very few people have been given the opportunity to stand in a court with the perpetrator. I am grateful to everyone who worked to make this possible. This day is not just for me, it is for the thousands of souls taken by the accused and his accomplices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

F.<\/strong> started his statement saying \u201cI\u2019m now sitting in court in front of such a monster, last time I saw him I thought it was the last time I was alive.\u201d He described how the experience fundamentally altered his sense of self: \u201cHe was killing hope inside me\u2026 my childhood\u2026 love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also sought to speak on behalf of others detained with him, including children: \u201cI want to be the voice of those who are no longer here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R.<\/strong> said she wanted to speak on behalf of all women who had been subjected to sexual violence, stressing that \u201cthey should not be silent.\u201d She apologised for leaving the courtroom the previous day, explaining that she could not bear listening to the accused speak about his own trauma, when, as she put it, \u201che is the one who caused this trauma to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described the long-term psychological impact of what she went through, including recurring triggers and memories that continue to affect her daily life. At the same time, she pointed to the accused\u2019s behaviour in court, saying that the way he spoke, particularly towards female judges and the prosecutor, was deeply disrespectful and difficult to accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rejecting the narrative imposed on her, she stated: \u201cI\u2019m not a source of shame for my family, as he was trying to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasised that the harm she suffered cannot be compared to the accused\u2019s time in detention, noting that her own suffering has lasted for more than thirteen years and continues to shape her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking directly, she also raised concerns about how she was being addressed during the proceedings: \u201cCan I get justice as a woman? Why, during court, do you need to be talking like this to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained that this way of speaking affects her deeply, including her sense of dignity and her future, both personally and professionally. For this reason, she insisted on speaking in her own voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She concluded by saying that, although she never expected to have the opportunity to seek justice outside Syria, being before the court now represents an important step in reclaiming her rights and dignity, even if some of what she lost cannot be restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O.<\/strong> said she was speaking on her own behalf, but also felt the need to add something different after hearing the previous statements. She stressed that, while much had already been said about the victims, it was important to clarify that they did not want to be seen only as such: \u201cWe are not only victims\u2026 we are part of a group of people of the revolution\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described her experience of displacement after leaving Syria in 2013, explaining that she had lost her home and been separated from her children, and had spent periods of time homeless in different countries. The trauma of detention and exile, she said, followed her for years, and she struggled to cope with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What helped her, she explained, was continuing to act,supporting others in Lebanon and contributing to documenting violations: \u201cI kept fighting\u2026 and helped others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, she described the fear that persisted even outside Syria, noting that she had initially refused to have her name made public because she was afraid of the regime and its networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O continued referring to the detailed accounts of sexual violence heard in court over the previous days. She noted the accused\u2019s reaction while listening: \u201cHe remained cold\u2026 he showed no humanity.\u201d She stressed that such violence has lasting and profound consequences, adding that people subjected to it can no longer experience their bodies as their own. In this context, she questioned the way such details are addressed in court: \u201cFor victims, these details are painful\u2026 I don\u2019t think they are useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite everything, she made clear that her position was not driven by hatred. She said she did not seek revenge and expressed the hope that responsibility would remain individual: \u201cThe defendant is the only one who has to pay for his crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She concluded by expressing a broader hope for the future, that one day people would be able to live again with their families in their own country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the session, the accused\u2019s position of denial remained a constant point of tension. Victims expressed distress at hearing his statements, particularly where he presented himself in ways they perceived as inconsistent with their experiences. Some also referred to perceived attempts at intimidation or discrediting of their testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court then addressed the civil claims for compensation submitted by the victims\u2019 lawyer on behalf of nine injured parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For D., M., F., O., S., and R., the lawyer requested EUR 35,000 each in non-material damages, on the basis that they are victims of torture and sexual violence, qualified as crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For A., H., and J., the request amounted to EUR 30,000 each in non-material damages, reflecting their status as victims of torture as a crime against humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defence argued that the claims should be declared inadmissible, raising several objections, including the lack of a clear and accessible legal framework under Syrian law governing the assessment and awarding of damages; requests were outdated, and the assertion that an expert report on immunity was not properly accessible or readable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court noted that the admissibility and substance of these compensation claims will be further examined and discussed at a later stage of the proceedings, in the context of the closing submissions of both the defence and the victims\u2019 representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proceedings are expected to continue with the submissions by the prosecution and defence on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hearings 13th and 14th of April 2026 Day 3 – (13 April 2026) The third hearing day focused on the remaining charges concerning three complainants, identified in court as H, F, and D, and then turned to the accused\u2019s personal circumstances, including discussion of a psychiatric assessment report. From the outset, the court made clear […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":208554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[299,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-208549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-scm-statements","category-uncategorized","post-wrapper"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe trial of the Head of the Investigation Department of the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Salamiyah, held in The Hague, Netherlands - Monitoring Summary for Days three and Four. - \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u0643\u0632 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0648\u0631\u064a \u0644\u0644\u0625\u0639\u0644\u0627\u0645 \u0648\u062d\u0631\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0639\u0628\u064a\u0631 Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression SCM Statements<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"%\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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