Five Austrian ex-officials on Trial over asylum to a Syrian former general in the Assad regime
VIENNA — On Friday, Five Austrian ex-officials went on trial in Vienna, risking up to 5 years in prison for allegedly providing asylum to a Syrian former general in the Assad regime suspected of crimes against humanity.
In 2016, an international non-profit organization tipped off Austrian authorities about war crimes allegations against Khaled al-Halabi, who served as head of state security in the northwest city of Raqqa, from 2009 to 2013, after locating him in Vienna.
The defendants were accused of abusing their office to procure asylum for Halabi.
Prosecutors say they helped Halabi transfer from France to Austria and obtain asylum in 2015 “under false pretenses.”
Halabi left Syria in 2013 and arrived in France in 2014, but was reportedly denied asylum due to concerns that he might have been involved in war crimes.