In the absence of its representative, “International Justice” begins the first trial sessions of the Syrian regime

ARK News… The trial session of the Syrian regime began at the International Court of Justice in The Hague against the backdrop of a lawsuit filed by Canada and the Netherlands regarding its commission of torture against Syrians and the use of chemical weapons in the absence of the regime’s representative, on Tuesday, October 10.

According to the Associated Press, the hearing focused on an initial request to impose orders (known as interim measures) on the Syrian regime to immediately stop torture “to protect potential victims.”

In this regard, President of the Court Joan Donoghue regretted that a representative of the Syrian regime was not present at the hearing on the torture case.

The head of the Canadian legal team, Alan Kessel, stated that the regime's failure to participate in today's proceedings does not protect it from the court's directives.

Kessel added that Canada and the Netherlands are committed to this file, saying: “Unfortunately, they have chosen to be absent (...) Canada and the Netherlands believe that the Assad government must respond and stop the widespread torture in the country.”

Balqis Jarrah, advisor to the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch, called on the International Court in its first session to “prevent further violations against the Syrians who are still suffering under horrific conditions and whose lives are seriously threatened.”

The second session, which was scheduled to be held today, was also canceled due to the absence of order, and tomorrow’s two sessions may also be canceled if the latter’s absence continues.

The Syrians organized a demonstration in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague in support of the trial of the Assad regime, and to demand that it be held accountable before the Criminal Court, and for the immediate release of detainees.

According to the latest statistics of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Syrian regime killed 15,272 people under torture in the period between March 2011 and March 2023.

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