A fighter from the Free Syrian Army who received asylum in Sweden is now facing war crimes charges there, for the alleged abuse of a member of the Syrian government armed forces.
The 28-year old man, who joined the Free Syrian Army in 2012, received asylum in Sweden in 2013. Prosecutors claim the man brutally attacked a soldier fighting for the Syrian government, captured in a video that was uploaded on to social media. They allege that the attack was carried out in a manner that "resembles torture."
Commenting on the case, prosecutor Hanna Lemoine said,
The 28-year old man, who joined the Free Syrian Army in 2012, received asylum in Sweden in 2013. Prosecutors claim the man brutally attacked a soldier fighting for the Syrian government, captured in a video that was uploaded on to social media. They allege that the attack was carried out in a manner that "resembles torture."
Commenting on the case, prosecutor Hanna Lemoine said,
”The police got access to a film that shows the man participating in the serious assault. He is currently being held in custody and we have pressed charges.”
“As far as I know this is the first time we have charged someone in Sweden for a crime committed in Syria’s civil war.”