The United States is urging Lebanon to comply with a request from Germany to extradite chief of Syria’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate Jamil Hassan to stand trial for crimes against humanity in connection with widespread torture in Syrian detention centers, US Department of State spokesman Robert Palladino said in a press release.
“The United States would welcome any decision by the Government of Lebanon that would facilitate the lawful extradition of Syrian General Jamil Hassan to Germany, in compliance with the government of Germany’s extradition request and consistent with applicable law, Palladino said on Tuesday.
The German Federal prosecutor issued an arrest warrant against Hassan in June 2018 for committing crimes against humanity based on a complaint filed by Syrian refugees residing in Germany, the release noted.
The release also said Hassan is currently in Lebanon for medical treatment. Hassan has previously been sanctioned by the United States and European Union, according to the release.
“The United States continuously seeks to shed light on abuses committed by the Assad regime, including its use of torture, and calls for the regime to allow for unhindered access of independent monitoring organizations to detention centers. Moreover, the United States supports effective mechanisms for holding those responsible for atrocities in Syria accountable.”
The Syrian Coalition earlier stressed the need to activate the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) which was established in 2016 to assist in investigating and prosecuting crimes under international law in Syria. It also stressed the move the judicial file forward through the establishment of a special tribunal to look into war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place in Syria, especially in light of Russia’s obstruction on the UN Security Council of the efforts to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
