Sweden launches war crimes trial against former Syrian officer
Al Jazeera
Mohammed Hamo is the first Syrian officer to face trial in Europe over military operations in the civil war.
Sweden has launched the trial of a former Syrian army officer over his alleged role in war crimes committed in 2012 during the country’s civil war.
The case against Brigadier General Mohammed Hamo, who resides in Sweden, opened on Monday. The trial is one of a very small number thus far against high-ranking Syrian government or military officials, despite efforts in Europe to implement justice against those responsible for human rights abuses during Syria’s 13-year civil war.
Hamo is charged with aiding and abetting abuses of international law. The 65-year-old former military official is accused of participating in operations that “systematically included attacks carried out in violation of the principle of distinction, caution and proportionality”, during his time as brigadier general in the Syrian army between January and July 2012.
Prosecutor Karolina Wieslander read out the charges which were described as constituting “a serious crime”. Hamo contributed, through “advice and action”, to the Syrian army’s “indiscriminate” warfare, according to the case.
The prosecutor also said Hamo worked in the Syrian army’s 11th Division and was vital in making “strategic decisions and [implementing] military operations”.
