A court in the Netherlands has sentenced a Syrian man to 26 years in prison after finding him guilty of torture, rape, and other crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s civil war. The ruling was announced by judges in The Hague on Monday.
The man, identified as Rafiq al Q. under Dutch privacy rules, was accused of abusing prisoners while working as an interrogator for the pro-government National Defense Force between 2013 and 2014. According to the court, he took part in the torture of civilians who were detained in the Syrian city of Salamiyah.
Judges said victims were subjected to severe mistreatment, including beatings, electric shocks, and other forms of physical and psychological abuse. The court also found him guilty of sexually abusing several detainees and raping one victim. Survivors who testified during the trial described the lasting pain and trauma they continue to experience years later.
Rafiq al Q. denied all allegations during the trial and claimed that the accusations against him were part of a conspiracy. However, the court concluded that the evidence and witness testimonies proved his involvement in the crimes.
The case was heard in the Netherlands under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This legal principle allows courts to prosecute serious international crimes such as torture, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, even when they were committed outside the country.
Dutch authorities arrested the suspect in 2023 after he had arrived in the Netherlands and applied for asylum. Prosecutors had requested a 30-year prison sentence, calling the crimes extremely serious and highlighting the suffering of the victims.
The verdict is part of a growing number of international efforts to hold people accountable for abuses committed during the Syrian conflict. Courts in several European countries, including Germany and France, have also prosecuted former Syrian officials and militia members accused of torture and other human rights violations.
Both the prosecution and the defense have the right to appeal the decision within the period allowed by Dutch law. For many survivors, however, the ruling represents another important step toward justice after years of waiting.
