By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – A former Syrian rebel fighter who sought asylum in Sweden has been charged with war crimes for abusing a member of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces who had been captured during the conflict. Swedish prosecutors said Monday that this was the first time they have filed such charges in connection with the Syrian Civil War which has raged on since the Syrian government forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in 2011. Prosecutors say the 28-year-old man, who has not yet been identified, joined the Free Syrian Army in 2012, allegedly kicked and beat the prisoner, whose hands and feet were tied, and struck him with pliers and a baton a video of the abuse was posted on Facebook.
Swedish prosecutors did not say how police came to find the video and did not comment on whether it had circulated on social media. The circumstances surrounding the attack led Swedish prosecutors to classify it as a crime committed as part of an ongoing armed conflict.
The suspect was indicted on Monday morning at Södertörn district court on charges of committing a war crime and serious assault.” As far as I know this is the first time we have charged someone in Sweden for a crime committed in Syria’s civil war,” prosecutor Hanna Lemoine said. ”The police got access to a film that shows the man participating in the serious assault. He is currently being held in custody and we have pressed charges.” Prosecutors intend to submit the Facebook video as evidence. The brutal beating of the Syrian solder was allegedly carried out by the suspect as well as a number of other people. The identity of the victim shown in the video is not known. Prosecutor Hanna Lemoine said the suspect, who received asylum in Sweden in 2013, claims he was acting under coercion. Defense lawyer Magnus Stromberg confirmed his client denies any criminal responsibility but declined any further comment.
Prosecutors say that the reason the man is now facing charges for war crimes in Sweden for crimes allegedly committed in Syria is because he had applied for and received asylum and permanent residency in Sweden after the alleged war crimes were committed.
The civil war in Syria has created over one million internally displaced peoples and refugees. As many as 30,000 refugees have sought asylum in Sweden, often spending thousands of dollars to make the journey from the Middle East to Europe. Today Sweden is the biggest host country outside of the Middle East for Syrian refugees. The Swedish Migration Board maintains arrival centers across the Scandinavian Country.
For more information please see:
ABC News – Syrian Ex-Rebel Charged With War Crimes in Sweden – 2 February 2015
Haaretz – Middle East Updates / U.S., Allies Stage 27 Airstrikes on ISIS Forces in Iraq, Syria – 2 February 2015
The Local. Sweden – Facebook ‘Torture’ Video Leads To Sweden Arrest – 2 February 2015
The Republic, Columbus Ohio – Syrian Ex-Rebel Charged With War Crimes in Sweden for Abuse of Prisoner – 2 February 2015
Refugees.EU – Sweden: Stories from Stockholm
