French arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad for alleged war crimes

Wednesday 22 January 2025 - 10:08

Two French judges have issued an arrest warrant for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of complicity in war crimes. This is the second such warrant issued by French authorities. The warrant, issued on Monday, holds Assad responsible as the "commander-in-chief of the armed forces" for a 2017 bombing in the Syrian city of Deraa, which killed a civilian.

The arrest warrant is part of an investigation into the death of Salah Abou Nabout, a Franco-Syrian national and former French teacher. He was killed on June 7, 2017, when Syrian army helicopters bombed his home. The French judiciary believes that Assad ordered and facilitated the attack.

Six senior Syrian army officials have already been targeted by French arrest warrants in this case, which has been ongoing since 2018. Omar Abou Nabout, the victim’s son, expressed his commitment to justice, stating that he hoped for a trial and for those responsible to be arrested and held accountable.

In November 2023, France issued its first arrest warrant for Assad over a chemical attack in 2013 that killed over a thousand people with sarin gas. While French prosecutors initially considered Assad's immunity as a head of state, his removal from power has altered his legal status, eliminating his immunity.

French authorities have issued 14 arrest warrants for Syrian officials involved in various war crimes since the conflict began in 2011. The Syrian Civil War, which began with a violent crackdown on protests, has resulted in over half a million deaths and severe economic damage, with many imprisoned or tortured. Assad is accused of using chemical weapons, including sarin gas, against civilians.

Recently, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor visited the Syrian leadership, sparking hope for justice and accountability for the crimes committed during Assad's regime.