Alaa M., a Syrian doctor, faces trial in Frankfurt for crimes against humanity linked to his work in military hospitals during the Assad regime. Prosecutors allege he tortured and killed inmates between 2011 and 2012, with harrowing testimonies describing the conditions and tactics used, including horrific acts of violence. M. immigrated to Germany in 2015, where he practiced medicine until his arrest in 2020. He denies the charges, citing fear of military oversight as a reason for his silence. Prosecutors seek a life sentence, while the defense calls for acquittal, underscoring the principle of universal jurisdiction employed in such cases.
The prosecution argued that Alaa M. was complicit in heinous acts against humanity, detailing torture techniques in a military hospital amidst the Syrian conflict.
A former inmate testified that he had to carry dead bodies of prisoners following M.'s interventions, describing the hospital environment as a 'slaughterhouse'.
Defending his actions, M. stated, 'I felt sorry for them, but I couldn't say anything, or it would have been me instead of the patient.'
Germany's commitment to universal jurisdiction allows it to prosecute war crimes, exemplified by ongoing legal actions against Assad's regime and its affiliates.
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