Dutch prosecutors seek 30-year sentence for Syrian accused of torture, sexual violence
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Dutch prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a 30-year prison sentence for a Syrian man accused of committing torture, sexual violence and rape as crimes against humanity during the Syrian conflict, in a landmark case being heard before the District Court of The Hague.
The defendant, identified by Dutch privacy regulations as 58-year-old Rafik A. (Rafiq al-Qatrib according to SANA), is charged with 25 counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed against nine people in 2013 and 2014 while he served as a lead interrogator for the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF) in Salamiyah, Hama Governorate. Prosecutors say the militia fought on the side of former president Bashar al-Assad.
The allegations include physical torture and sexual assault of detainees in militia detention facilities. In court, several witnesses described severe physical and psychological abuse, including beatings with cables, electric shocks and rape. “Not only did he tear my body apart, but he trampled on my soul,” one victim told the judges.
Rafik A. denied all involvement in the crimes, characterizing the accusations as part of a “conspiracy” and claiming he worked as a civil servant rather than a militia interrogator. He made his comments through an interpreter, at times interrupting court proceedings and objecting to prosecutors’ statements.
The case marks the first time Dutch prosecutors have charged sexual violence as a crime against humanity and is the first trial in the Netherlands addressing alleged atrocity crimes by pro-government forces in Syria. It is being tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes committed abroad if suspects or victims are present in their territory.
Rafik A. applied for asylum in the Netherlands in 2021, and lived in the town of Druten until his arrest by Dutch authorities in 2023. Courts in the Netherlands have previously tried Syrians for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the conflict, including a 12-year prison sentence in 2024 for a pro-government militia member convicted of torture and illegal detention.
Prosecutors and the defense are scheduled to deliver closing arguments on Thursday, with the verdict expected on June 9.