Dimasheq
A court in The Hague, Netherlands, has sentenced Rafiq Al-Katreeb, a former leader in the pro-former-regime militia “National Defense,” to 26 years in prison after convicting him of 19 crimes classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The case relates to violations committed in the city of Salamiyah and its surrounding areas in the Hama countryside between 2013 and 2014.
The court stated that the ruling was based on proven involvement in acts of torture, rape, and sexual violence against eight victims inside three detention facilities near Salamiyah. The defendant was acquitted of charges related to a ninth victim due to insufficient legal evidence.
The judges confirmed that the case represents a legal precedent in the Netherlands, as it is the first time that certain forms of severe sexual violence have been classified as crimes against humanity. They also noted that the gravity of the abuses and the extent of the victims’ suffering were key factors in determining the sentence.
In the same context, the court rejected financial compensation claims submitted by the victims, stating that its criminal jurisdiction does not extend to adjudicating such claims within this type of criminal proceeding.
