Dutch Court Convicts Assad Interrogator of Torture, Hands Down 26-Year Sentence

A Dutch court convicted a former Assad regime interrogator of torturing eight detainees at detention centers near Salamiyah, sentencing him to 26 years—one of Europe's harshest penalties for Syrian crimes. The verdict rested on survivor testimony and evidence gathered years later. With the International Criminal Court blocked from prosecuting Syria and Russia vetoing UN referrals, European courts have become the main arena for accountability.