By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian insurgent and opposition teams mentioned Germany’s conviction of a former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes towards humanity this week was welcome however was solely a step in the direction of holding to account President Bashar al-Assad and his prime aides.

The conviction nL1N2TT0MJ of Anwar Raslan, who defected to Syria’s opposition in 2012 earlier than securing asylum in Germany, marked a landmark ruling associated to state-backed torture dedicated throughout Syria’s decade-long civil warfare.

However opponents of Syria’s authorities mentioned circumstances towards decrease rating officers shouldn’t distract from extra senior targets.

“We welcome the justice of the German court docket … however we additionally warn towards the selective justice that pursues small killers and fugitive criminals from the community of terror and authoritarianism,” mentioned Mustafa Sejari, a insurgent commander and former detainee.

“Justice begins by holding and pursuing Assad and his prime henchmen, aides and supporters of his crimes,” mentioned Sejari, head of the political bureau of the Syrian Entrance for Liberation, a mainstream insurgent group working within the final insurgent enclave.

Raslan, 58, was convicted on 27 out of 58 counts of homicide, rape and sexual assault carried out at a Damascus jail run by a unit of the safety companies he led. He denied the fees.

Syria’s Info Ministry didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for touch upon the Raslan case that was despatched throughout the Syrian weekend, which begins on Friday. There was no instant signal of any official response in Syrian media.

The Assad authorities routinely denies torturing prisoners and says its forces have been waging a battle towards rebels and Islamists who it accuses of terrorising the inhabitants.

‘VICTORY’ FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of the Syrian Community for Human Rights, which helped prosecutors and compiles casualty lists, mentioned the conviction confirmed “these are crimes of a scientific widespread nature that can’t be carried out by people with out being a central coverage of the Syrian regime”.

Mohamad Sabra, a former opposition negotiator, wrote on Twitter (NYSE:): “It is a victory for the precept of accountability and a small step … on the trail of holding to account all perpetrators of warfare crimes and violators of human rights in Syria.”

Syria’s battle started with protests towards Assad’s regime in 2011, when uprisings flared throughout the Center East towards authoritarian leaders. It swiftly descended into all-out warfare.

Assad has now regained management of a lot of the territory initially misplaced to insurgent and Islamist fighters, helped by Syria’s ally Russia. Rebels nonetheless maintain out in a small, northern space.

Tens of millions of individuals have been displaced within the warfare, tens of 1000’s have died and cities and cities have been devastated.

Raslan’s trial was held underneath Germany’s common jurisdiction legal guidelines, which permit courts to prosecute crimes towards humanity dedicated anyplace on this planet.

“The decision is not going to heal the injuries within the coronary heart of a mom who misplaced her son underneath torture or ease struggling endured by a detainee but it surely’s an opportunity to resume the hope the Syrian regime will fall,” mentioned Omar al Shughri, an activist for detainees with the Syrian Organisation for Emergencies.

Raed Al Saleh, head of the opposition-run Syrian civil defence service referred to as the White Helmets, mentioned the trial would have had extra influence if it might have been held in Syria.

“The trial was underneath worldwide jurisdiction however what in regards to the tens of 1000’s who disappeared in Assad’s prisons and who have been tortured every single day,” he added.