Damascus News Platform — News
A trial is being held today, Monday, in the Austrian capital Vienna involving former officials of the former Syrian regime, on allegations related to human rights violations that included torture and ill-treatment of opposition members during the early years of the protests in Syria.
Public prosecutors in Vienna stated that the defendants, two former officers holding the ranks of brigadier general and major in Syrian security agencies, are accused of issuing orders for torture or failing to prevent it in several cases. They are also suspected of involvement in abuses against civilians detained in the Raqqa Governorate between 2011 and 2013, as part of a broader crackdown on anti-regime protests.
The public prosecution clarified that the identities of the defendants were not officially disclosed in its statement, in line with judicial procedures prior to verdicts being issued. However, Austrian media reports, including Der Standard, indicated that one of the defendants is former brigadier general Khaled Al-Halabi, who has been held in pre-trial detention since late 2024, while the second defendant is believed to be Major Musab Abu Rukba.
The reports also noted that both men had applied for asylum in Austria in 2015.
The prosecution confirmed that investigations indicate at least 21 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment inside detention centers, “based on orders issued by security agencies affiliated with the central Syrian government,” as part of suppression operations against civilian protests during that period.
