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Suspected Hezbollah Affiliate: Syrian Leader Faces German Justice
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This case highlights the pivotal role of sectarian militias in fueling the Syrian conflict and committing crimes against civilians, complicating the path to national reconciliation

On Tuesday, the trial of a 32-year-old Syrian citizen began at the Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart, Germany. The suspect is believed to be affiliated with a militia linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has charged the accused with crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, and deprivation of liberty in Syria.
According to a statement from a court spokesperson, the indictment was read at the beginning of the trial session. The charges indicate that the accused has been involved in the Syrian conflict since at least spring 2012, where he led an armed Shiite militia fighting alongside Syrian regime forces.
The indictment states that the militia led by the accused aimed to intimidate and displace Sunni residents from the city of Bosra al-Sham in Daraa governorate, southern Syria, which is under regime control. To achieve this goal, the militia committed brutal violations including killings, looting, and destruction of victims' homes.
Among the incidents attributed to the accused, in August 2012, he and members of his militia attacked a Sunni family in their home. One family member was killed by gunfire from one of the attackers. The militia also looted the house's contents before destroying it from the inside and burning it.
Moreover, the defendant is accused of arresting and mistreating Sunni civilians in Bosra al-Sham during 2013 and 2014. In one case, victims were handed over to Syrian military intelligence elements, where they were severely tortured. At least one of them was detained for several weeks.
It's worth noting that German authorities arrested the accused in the Rhine-Neckar area last December, and he has been in custody since then.
This trial comes as part of ongoing international efforts to achieve justice for Syrian victims and reflects the commitment of the European judiciary to prosecute those involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity, regardless of where they were committed.
It also highlights the dangerous role played by sectarian militias in fueling the Syrian conflict and deepening societal divisions, posing additional challenges to future national reconciliation efforts.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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