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German Judiciary Pursues ISIS Member Who Recruited Child in Aleppo Battles
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Continued German trials of Syrian war criminals reflect Berlin's commitment to achieving justice and compensating victims amid new changes
The German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated legal proceedings at the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court against a Syrian suspected of belonging to "ISIS," where the highest judicial authority in Karlsruhe charged the accused with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and involvement in genocide.
The State Security Chamber of the court is reviewing the acceptance of the case and setting a trial date, noting that the accused has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest in Essen, western Germany, last April.
The prosecution based its case on information indicating the accused joined the organization in Syria in 2014 and held a leadership position in the local security apparatus, where they claim he played a pivotal role in forced property seizure operations for the organization's benefit.
The prosecution statement detailed the accused's involvement in leading a group that seized private homes in 13 documented cases, using the buildings to house fighters, offices, and warehouses, and in two cases as detention centers for kidnapped Yazidi women for sexual assault.
The statement included charging "Osama A." with incitement and aiding genocide, noting that "this was an integral part of the organization's goal to eliminate the Yazidi community."
The charges included the accused's recruitment of his 13-year-old nephew in summer 2014, who later participated in armed battles in Aleppo.
Germany has topped the list of countries conducting trials outside Syria regarding war crimes, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction, where in early 2022 it issued a life sentence to a former Syrian intelligence officer for committing murder and rape crimes.
A senior German Foreign Ministry official reported Wednesday that Berlin supports a UN body specialized in investigating serious Syrian crimes, especially after the fall of the Assad regime.
Minister Tobias Lindner confirmed that "the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism is gathering evidence to hold those responsible for horrific crimes against Syrians accountable," adding that "investigation and trials should be conducted under (new) Syrian leadership."
Levant-Agencies
