The Association of Victims of Chemical Weapons in Syria (AVCW) welcomes the decision of French investigating judges to issue arrest warrants against (President Bashar al-Assad, General Maher al-Assad, Brigadier General Bassam al-Hassan, and Brigadier General Ghassan Abbas). accused of using prohibited chemical weapons against civilians in Douma on August 5 and in Zamalka and Ain Tarma in Eastern Ghouta on August 21, 2013. These attacks caused the deaths of more than 1,466 people and injured nearly 10,000 individuals (according to statistics from the Unified Medical Office in Ghouta). Many members of the association participated in the lawsuit, either as plaintiffs or witnesses.
The association emphasizes that the decision of the investigating judges not to recognize the immunity granted to the President of the Republic is a historic decision,
which shows the impossibility of accepting immunity in such types of crimes, particularly regarding the direct approval from the President, who is the supreme commander of the army and armed forces, for the use of chemical weapons.
This path has been the result of Syrian national efforts in collaboration with the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, along with partner organizations. It brought together the courage and will of survivors and witnesses along with expertise in documentation and human rights, taking advantage of the principle of judicial jurisdiction outside the region concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity in the French judicial system.
The motto of our association since the beginning has been “together for the rights of victims and preventing impunity.” What has been achieved today is the first single step on the long road to justice. It will be followed by many more steps and paths until the day when Bashar al-Assad and all perpetrators of violations in Syria are held accountable for everything they have committed against the Syrian people.
