Netherlands: A leader in the National Defense Militia was arrested on charges of committing war crimes

ARK News… The Dutch authorities arrested a prominent leader in the Syrian regime’s “National Defense” militia for committing war crimes in Syria, including “torture and sexual violence.”

The Public Prosecution Office in the Dutch city of Druten said that this is the first time that someone in the country has been accused of this “serious crime.”

The authorities suspect that the accused, Rafiq Al-Qatrib (55 years old), was heading the “Investigation Department” in the “National Defense” branch in the city of Salamiya in the Hama countryside, between 2013 and 2014.

It indicated that the accused, Rafiq Al-Qatrib, arrived in the Netherlands in July 2021. He obtained a temporary asylum permit, noting that the international crimes team tracked down the accused shortly after his arrival, then began an investigation and subsequently arrested him.

The suspect is scheduled to appear before the investigating judge next Monday.

The case of Rafiq Qatrib is the first case of arrest of a person in the Netherlands for investigation on suspicion of committing serious crimes, which elated to sexual violence that occurred in Syria in the city of Salamiya from 2013-2018.

According to human rights reports, the National Defense Forces of the Syrian regime committed many violations against human rights.

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