Historically speaking, the guilty verdict issued by the Paris Assize Court on Friday, May 24th, in a case involving high-ranking officials of the Syrian repressive system is unprecedented. This verdict was pronounced in absentia, as the three accused chose not to be represented by lawyers. Ali Mamlouk, former head of the National Security Bureau and current special advisor to President Bashar Al-Assad, Jamil Hassan, former director of the feared Air Force intelligence services, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud, former director of the investigation branch of these services, were all sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes. The court also maintained the international arrest warrants against the three men, who are still living in Syria.
The charges against the three men involved their role in the forced disappearance, detention, torture, and death of Mazzen and Patrick Dabbagh, a father and son of Franco-Syrian nationality, in Damascus between 2013 and 2018. They were also accused of confiscating the family home in 2016, leading to the forced eviction of Mazzen Dabbagh’s wife and daughter as a result of a military court order. The courtroom was filled with Syrian refugees and activists, who applauded the tribunal at the end of the trial, embracing and congratulating the Dabbagh family members who were civil parties to the case. The prosecutor, Céline Viguier, argued for a life sentence, describing the crimes as of extreme gravity and leading to extraordinary suffering.
Despite the lack of information provided about the defendants’ personalities during the trial, Viguier emphasized that Ali Mamlouk, Jamil Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud were essential components of the repressive system in Syria, for which they can be considered architects, like Bashar Al-Assad. The prosecutor urged the court to consider this verdict as a step towards combating impunity. The fate of the defendants was decided by a panel of three judges, as the six lay jurors were not called due to the absence of the accused. The presiding judge, Laurent Raviot, demonstrated attentiveness and focus throughout the trial. The verdict represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of atrocities committed in Syria.
The trial highlighted the systematic and widespread nature of human rights violations in Syria, drawing attention to the plight of the victims and the need for accountability for those responsible. Mazen Darwish, a Syrian lawyer and human rights activist, played a key role in documenting and exposing these abuses through his organization, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). The courtroom atmosphere, filled with emotion and solidarity among supporters of the victims, underscored the importance of seeking justice for the countless individuals who have suffered under the repressive regime in Syria.
The international community has closely monitored the trial, recognizing its significance in addressing the impunity enjoyed by high-ranking officials responsible for crimes against humanity. The verdict sends a strong message that perpetrators of such heinous acts will be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their positions of power. The condemnation of Ali Mamlouk, Jamil Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud represents a critical step towards justice for the victims of the Syrian conflict and serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law in the face of atrocities. The trial has set a precedent for future accountability measures against individuals involved in state-sponsored violence and repression.
