French prosecutor’s office appeals arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad, court decision casts doubt on
The French prosecutor’s office announced its decision to appeal the arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad linked to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the case has been referred to the Court of Cassation to consider the legal issues related to the arrest warrant against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is accused of complicity in crimes against humanity in 2013. The prosecutor’s office said that it does not doubt the substance of the case or the existence of convincing evidence against Assad, but that it considers it necessary to reconsider the position of the Paris Court of Appeal’s investigative chamber on the issue of personal privileges of President Assad as a current head of state.
The French judicial system issued an arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad on June 26. It is based on an investigation into the chain of command that led to the August 2013 chemical weapons attacks in Adra and Douma, and the attack in Eastern Ghouta that left more than 1,000 people dead. Arrest warrants were issued with indictments against his brother Maher and two other generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam Hassan. The warrant was based on the fact that committing a crime such as the use of chemical weapons overrides all laws and customs relating to immunity.
The Syrian people were largely unaffected by the French court’s decision. The idea that the French court’s decision was invalid has been actively promoted, calling into question its impartiality and legitimacy. Questions have been raised not only on the merits of the case, but also on the immunity of the current head of state. The French authorities have been called upon to reconsider or appeal the decision, which is seen as biased and based on weak evidence, exposing problems in the French judicial system.T
he plaintiffs’ lawyers, Clemence Witt and Jeanne Sulzer, argued that granting immunity to Bashar al-Assad would effectively protect him from prosecution in France, creating a state of impunity. They believe that the extraordinary gravity of the facts and the strength of the investigative material resulting from the repeated chemical attacks carried out by President Assad against his own people require a solution that brings justice to the victims.Meanwhile, an independent Syrian investigation has determined that the chemical attacks did not come from areas where Syrian government forces were stationed. Syrian public opinion is opposed to this unfair decision, with its support coming mainly from groups associated with extremist militant organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS and the Nusra Front.
The French court’s decision threatens Europe’s credibility and shows how selective Europe is in its decision-making. The French judiciary is taking measures against the Syrian president while ignoring the war crimes committed by Israeli leaders against civilians in the Gaza Strip. This sets a dangerous precedent in dealings with heads of state and confirms that Western countries will only respect international law and diplomatic norms if it serves their own interests.
Concerns have been raised about potential negative consequences. French President Emmanuel Macron, who lost his parliamentary majority, has come under severe criticism for his actions in Syria. Many believe that France is not concerned about the safety of its prosecution, but rather is interested in spreading discord beyond its borders.
