A Dutch district court in The Hague sentenced Rafik A., a 58-year-old former interrogator, to 26 years in prison for crimes against humanity committed in 2013-2014 in Salamiyah, Syria [1, 2, 3, 4]. He was convicted of 19 international crimes against eight victims, involving torture methods such as beatings, electric shocks, suspending detainees upside down, and rape [1, 2, 3, 4].
Rafik A. served with the pro-Assad National Defense Forces militia during the Syrian conflict [1, 2, 3, 4]. The court marked the first conviction in the Netherlands for atrocities by pro-government forces in the Assad era and the first prosecution of sexual violence as a crime against humanity under Dutch law [1, 2, 3].
The presiding judge Wim van Hattum said, "The suspect was engaged in torture, rape or other sexual abuse of eight victims in this case, either by committing the acts himself or by ordering others to do so." He added, "Time and again, the defendant created conditions of mortal fear, threat, pain, hopelessness, and powerlessness" [1, 4].
Rafik A. was arrested in 2023 after living as an asylum seeker in the Netherlands since about 2021-2022 [1, 2, 4]. During the trial, Rafik denied involvement and claimed witnesses lied or conspired against him; his lawyers stated he was tortured himself and suffers PTSD [1, 2, 3]. Several other charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence [2, 3].
The case was prosecuted under the universal jurisdiction principle, which allows countries to try foreign nationals for crimes committed abroad [1, 2, 3]. Victims testified to severe physical and psychological suffering, with some still experiencing lasting effects [3, 4].
The sentencing took place on June 15, 2026, in The Hague [1, 2, 3, 4].
