Austrian authorities have charged two former Syrian officials; Brigadier General Jamal (Khaled) al-Halabi and Lieutenant Colonel Musab Abu Rukbeh, from the ousted Assad regime with serious crimes against civilians in detention.
The Public Prosecution stated that the two officers are accused of committing systematic violations, including torture, physical violence, and sexual assault, against detainees during the war in Syria, specifically between 2011 and 2013 in the city of Raqqa. Investigators have identified at least 21 victims so far.
The decade-long investigation began after the officers entered Austria in 2015 as asylum seekers, presenting themselves as victims of the war. Their identities were later confirmed by Syrian survivors, including Mohammed al-Hajj, who had been arrested and tortured in Raqqa in 2012.
Al-Hajj recognized Abu Rukbeh at an Austrian asylum center and provided crucial testimony that helped trigger a comprehensive legal case against both Abu Rukbeh and al-Halabi, who had overseen torture operations at the State Security Branch.
Further inquiries revealed that al-Halabi had reached Europe through France, and media reports suggest he may have maintained contacts with foreign intelligence agencies during his tenure in Syria’s security services.
Syrian lawyer Asid al-Mousa, alongside teams of attorneys and human rights organizations, played a key role in documenting testimonies and gathering evidence, enabling Austrian authorities to build a substantial case. This case is considered one of Europe’s most significant cross-border justice efforts related to war crimes in Syria.
