A former Syrian intelligence chief in Raqqa has been found guilty of torture and sexual abuse of opponents of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by a court in Vienna, Austria. Alongside him, the former police chief in Raqqa was also convicted of abusing political opponents.

The intelligence chief, identified only as Khaled al-H. under Austrian privacy laws, led Syria's General Intelligence Directorate in Raqqa from 2011, when the uprising against Assad began, until 2013, when the Free Syrian Army took control of the city. Khaled al-H., a member of the Druze ethno-religious minority, was found guilty of torture. Both men, including Moussab Abou R., the former police chief, were found guilty of sexual coercion, aggravated coercion, and inflicting serious bodily harm.

Prosecutors stated that the men frequently ordered or failed to prevent the abuse of anti-government protesters in Raqqa, aiming to suppress the protest movement and intimidate the population. Earlier in the trial, Khaled al-H. denied ordering or witnessing any torture and claimed that as a Druze minority member, he was obliged to follow orders.

According to media reports, Khaled al-H. was brought to Austria by the former domestic intelligence service (BVT) at the request of the Israeli spy agency Mossad as part of "Operation White Milk." This case is a rare instance of a European country asserting jurisdiction over crimes committed by agents of Assad's government.

Notable Quote

"suppress the protest movement against the regime at the time and to intimidate the population"

Sources