Thursday’s verdict of the higher regional court of Koblenz, Germany, whereby a Syrian former colonel, Anwar Raslan, was found guilty of crimes against humanity in 2011 and 2012 in Syria constitutes a landmark decision.

This verdict is part of the first trial worldwide on state-sponsored torture in Syria and an important step towards the fight against impunity and to secure justice and accountability in Syria. 

The EU has supported and will continue to support efforts to gather evidence with a view to future legal action, including by the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry.

The EU reiterates its call to have the situation in Syria referred to the International Criminal Court.