First witness testifies in German trial on alleged torture in Syria

The first witness in a groundbreaking trial against Syrian officials suspected of torture testified in Germany on Friday, describing statements that the main defendant had made to German police about his past.

The defendant – then a witness – told police during an interrogation in 2017 that he had held a high position in a prison of the Syrian intelligence service, an official with Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office told a regional court in Koblenz.

During the opposition uprising in Syria almost a decade ago, 17,000 detainees were brought to the prison in the capital Damascus within three months, according to the defendant, who has been identified only as 57-year-old Anwar R under German privacy laws.

Ninety-five per cent of them were released, but many interrogations were held, “both peaceful and violent,” the German police official quoted the colonel as saying.

The defendant also told police that he ended up deserting.

Numerous people who are believed to be victims of torture in Syria and later fled to different European countries have identified the defendant, the police official said. A former Syrian guard at the torture prison has also provided information on Anwar R.

Prosecutors say Anwar R was responsible for the brutal torture of at least 4,000 people in the prison run by the General Intelligence Directorate. At least 58 people allegedly died as a result.

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His co-defendant, 43-year-old Eyad A, is accused of bringing at least 30 protesters to the prison.

Prosecutors say the proceedings are the “first criminal trial worldwide” against members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for suspected crimes against humanity. It is scheduled to continue on Tuesday. (dpa)