A 58-year-old Syrian man has become the first person in the United Kingdom to be charged with crimes against humanity, following a years-long investigation by Scotland Yard into alleged atrocities committed during the early stages of the Syrian Civil War.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces seven charges in total — three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, three counts of torture and one count of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity. The charges relate to his alleged role in suppressing anti-government demonstrations in Damascus in April 2011, during the tenure of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The investigation was initiated by the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team following a referral in November 2020, which raised accusations about the suspect’s conduct while serving in the Syrian armed forces. Officers searched a property in Buckinghamshire and arrested the man in December 2021. He was released on bail before being formally charged on Monday. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, described the case as “an incredibly complex and challenging investigation, involving enquiries across many countries” and said it had required close cooperation with international partners and the Crown Prosecution Service. “The charges are extremely serious and show that we fully support the UK’s ‘no safe haven’ policy in relation to alleged war criminals,” she said, adding that allegations of this nature falling within UK jurisdiction would be investigated “rigorously and robustly.”
Bethan David, head of the CPS’s counter-terrorism division, confirmed that prosecutors had concluded there was sufficient evidence to bring seven offences under the International Criminal Court Act 2001 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988. “We have worked closely with the War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police Service as they carried out their investigation,” she said, reminding all parties that proceedings are active and that the defendant is entitled to a fair trial.
The CPS also issued a formal warning against any reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that could prejudice the proceedings.
The case marks a significant moment for UK war crimes prosecution, establishing for the first time that crimes against humanity charges can be brought and pursued through the British courts. The suspect’s first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
