Syria: ICJ to begin hearings on Assad regime crimes

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Thursday that it will start hearings on the case of the Syrian regime’s crimes against Syrians.

In a statement, the ICJ said that it will hold public hearings in the case concerning the Application of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Previously, the ICJ announced that Canada and the Netherlands filed a complaint against the Syrian Arab Republic.

“The hearings will be starting on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court,” the ICJ confirmed.

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It added: “The hearings will be devoted to the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Canada and the Netherlands on 8 June 2023.”

Canada and the Netherlands, in their application, contended that: “Syria has committed countless violations of international law, beginning at least in 2011, with its violent repression of civilian demonstrations, and continuing as the situation in Syria devolved into a protracted armed conflict.”

According to the applicants, the ICJ conveyed: “These violations include the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Canada and the Netherlands seek to found the Court’s jurisdiction on Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and on Article 30, paragraph 1, of the Convention against Torture, to which both Applicants and Syria are parties.”

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