Two Syrians charged, a third arrested on suspicion of war crimes
Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism - The German Public Prosecution Service announced that it had indicted a Syrian suspected of leading a group that fought with ISIS for war crimes, and accused another Syrian of belonging to the same group, and announced the arrest of a third suspect of the same nationality on similar suspicions.
The German Federal Public Prosecution Service for Combating Terrorism, based in Karlsruhe, announced on April 11, 2024, that it had indicted a Syrian suspected of leading a group that fought in his country alongside ISIS for war crimes.
The person in question is “Amer A.”, who was the alleged leader of the “Jund al-Rahman Brigade,” and is accused of committing “war crimes” against the backdrop of “forced displacement, looting and destruction,” according to what the prosecution explained in a statement.
The prosecution also accused another Syrian named “Bassel W.” of belonging to the group, and announced the arrest of a third suspect of the same nationality on similar suspicions.
According to the prosecution, “Amer A.” founded The so-called “Jund al-Rahman Brigade” was formed in 2013 in the eastern Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor. This armed group sought to “overthrow the Syrian regime through violence” by allying itself with the “Free Syrian Army” but following an “Islamic agenda.”
In June 2013, Amer A.’s fighters reportedly joined other jihadist groups in an attack on the village of Hatla (east), killing up to 60 of its Shiite residents. Survivors were forced to flee after being threatened with death, and “the armed group seized valuables and destroyed religious and cultural institutions.”
In 2014, Amer A. joined the Islamic State (ISIS) and placed his fighters and financial resources under the group’s control.
Bassel W. is suspected of holding “an important military position” in Amer A.’s organization in 2013-2014. The third Syrian, Suhail A., was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of belonging to the Jund al-Rahman Brigade and the Islamic State group, and is also suspected of committing war crimes in Syria related to forced displacement. The prosecution said in a separate statement that he worked as a media official and had filmed “propaganda videos,” some of which were about the Hatla massacre. The three defendants are being held by German authorities.
