Families of Syrian regime detainees demand justice as Syrian regime faces trial in The Hague

THE HAGUE — The International Court of Justice in The Hague commenced the trial of the Syrian regime in response to a joint lawsuit filed by Canada and the Netherlands. On 10 and 11 October, families of detainees and human rights activists gathered outside the court, calling for the release of detainees and the trial of head of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad.

Some demonstrators expressed frustration over the Court’s postponement, attributing it to the absence of regime representatives and the lack of prior justification for their nonattendance. They deemed this delay as a provocative act. During the sit-in, the demonstrators aimed to spotlight the brutality of the regime by sharing images of detainees who were killed under torture.

Emphasizing the importance of holding the regime accountable for non-compliance with the Treaty on the Cessation of Torture, which it had signed, they asserted, “The regime should be condemned for all its crimes committed.” The protestors underscored the necessity of demanding justice for the victims.

Expressing their hopes, the demonstrators urged Canada and the Netherlands to call for a decision permitting international committees, along with medical teams, to enter prisons and secret detention centers to rescue those still inside.

A letter addressed to the international community was also submitted, urging collective action to end the Syrian regime’s practice of depriving families of their children through torture, preventing the recurrence of tragic instances akin to those highlighted in “Caesar” hearings in US Congress.