THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The Netherlands and Canada have joined forces to hold Syria’s government accountable for massive human rights violations against its own citizens. On Tuesday, they presented their case before the International Court of Justice, accusing Damascus of heinous acts committed since the start of the conflict in 2011.
The accusations encompass a range of appalling atrocities, including torture, murder, sexual assault, forced disappearances, and chemical weapon attacks on a large scale. The Dutch and Canadian authorities emphasized that for over a decade, Syrians have endured these grave human rights violations at the hands of the Syrian regime.
The Syrian conflict initially began with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad’s government in March 2011. However, it swiftly escalated into a brutal civil war following the government’s harsh crackdown on the demonstrators. The balance of power shifted in favour of Assad’s regime in 2015, with crucial military support provided by Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
In their submission to the court, the Netherlands and Canada outlined the horrifying extent of torture in Syria. The methods included severe beatings, whippings with various instruments, electric shocks, burning body parts, extraction of nails and teeth, mock executions, and simulated drownings.
The hearings that commenced on Tuesday focused on the Dutch and Canadian plea for the court to issue an interim order demanding that Syria immediately halt the torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of its people. This order is sought while the case proceeds through the international legal process, a journey expected to span several years.
Balkees Jarrah, the Associate International Justice Director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the importance of this case as an opportunity to shed light on Syria’s prolonged and atrocious torture of countless civilians. She urged the court to swiftly implement measures to prevent further abuses against the suffering Syrians whose lives are at significant risk.
In their formal submission to the court, Canada and the Netherlands squarely placed the blame on Assad’s government. They argued that the consistent use of diverse torture methods across different locations in Syria signifies the systematic and widespread nature of these practices, extending from the highest echelons of the Syrian government.
While orders issued by the court are legally binding, compliance is not always guaranteed by the countries involved in the proceedings. Last year, the judges issued a similar order in a separate case, urging Moscow to cease hostilities in Ukraine.
Canada and the Netherlands accuse Assad’s administration of violating the United Nations Convention Against Torture and contend that the convention’s conflict resolution mechanism grants the International Court of Justice in The Hague the jurisdiction to adjudicate this critical case.
The war in Syria has inflicted immense suffering, claiming the lives of half a million people, injuring hundreds of thousands, and causing widespread destruction throughout the country. Furthermore, it has forced half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million to flee their homes, with over 5 million becoming refugees outside Syria. The quest for justice and accountability remains a crucial step towards healing and rebuilding this war-torn nation.
