1 month ago
- The proceedings of erstwhile Syrian service wide Mohammed Hamo is underway successful a Stockholm court.
- Hamo is charged pinch aiding and abetting warfare crimes allegedly committed during nan Syrian civilian warfare successful 2012.
- He is accused of participating successful attacks violating world law, including indiscriminate attacks, during his clip successful nan Syrian army's 11th division.
The proceedings of a erstwhile Syrian service wide complete his alleged domiciled successful warfare crimes committed successful 2012 successful his location state started astatine a Stockholm tribunal Monday, a first according to a quality authorities organization.
Syria has been ravaged by civilian warfare for complete 13 years.
Brig. Gen Mohammed Hamo, who is presently domiciled successful Sweden, is charged pinch aiding and abetting crimes violating world law, described by nan prosecution arsenic "a superior crime" erstwhile he was charged successful February.
VIOLENCE IN SYRIA RISES, AID DRIES UP AS CIVIL WAR BEGINS 14TH YEAR
The Associated Press sewage a clasp of Hamo's accusation expanse successful which nan charismatic claims nan 65-year-old — who was a brigadier wide successful nan Syrian service betwixt January 2012 and July 2012 — has participated successful nan warfare that "systematically included attacks carried retired successful usurpation of nan rule of distinction, be aware and proportionality," adding that nan attacks were "indiscriminate."
The Stockholm District Court is seen connected Monday up of nan main proceeding against nan erstwhile Syrian brigadier wide Mohammed Hamo, who stands accused of aiding and abetting warfare crimes successful Syria successful 2012. (Oscar Olsson/TT News Agency via AP)
The charismatic besides said Hamo worked successful nan Syrian army's 11th section and he was captious successful making "strategic decisions and (implementing) subject operations."
"This proceedings is important because it’s nan first clip that anyone from nan Syrian authorities aliases nan Syrian service is really put connected proceedings for nan attacks that took place," said Aida Samani of nan Stockholm-based Civil Rights Defenders, a politically and religiously independent quality authorities organization.
The erstwhile wide risks up to 18 years successful jailhouse and moreover life imprisonment, Samani said. A life condemnation successful Sweden is mostly betwixt 20 to 25 years successful prison.
Eight plaintiffs revenge nan lawsuit against Hamo, including a man whose relative was killed successful nan attacks connected nan Syrian metropolis of Homs, arsenic good arsenic a British photographer and a French journalist who were some injured successful nan onslaught connected nan city's media center, nan Swedish news agency TT said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Little is known astir Hamo. He defected from nan Syrian service successful July 2012 and joined those fighting to region President Bashar Assad from power. Syrian guidance activists opportunity he was progressive successful nan fighting successful nan erstwhile rebel-held vicinity of Baba Amr successful Homs city, Syria’s 3rd largest.
He lived successful cardinal Sweden until he was arrested complete his expected information successful warfare crimes connected December 7, 2021. A tribunal astatine nan clip released him 2 days later, saying location wasn't capable grounds to support him incarcerated. He has since been free.
Hamo's defense lawyer, Mari Kilman, said her customer maintained his innocence.
The unrest successful Syria betwixt Assad’s authorities and guidance groups began successful March 2011 and later exploded into a civilian warfare that killed astir half a cardinal group and displaced half nan country’s pre-war organization of 23 million.
The proceedings astatine nan Stockholm District Court is planned to past 18 days pinch nan past tribunal convention connected May 21. No day for a verdict was announced.
