GERMANY: Syrian opposition members in Germany want Bashar al-Assad to be brought before the International Court of Justice

Record ID: 276327

  • Title: GERMANY: Syrian opposition members in Germany want Bashar al-Assad to be brought before the International Court of Justice
  • Date: 11th February 2012
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) SYRIAN OPPOSITION MEMBERS IN GERMAN EXILE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES FERHAD AHMA, SYRIAN OPPOSITION MEMBER OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL (SNC), LOOKING AT MOBILE PHONE HOZAN IBRAHIM, MEMBER SECRETARIAT GENERAL OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL (SNC) LOOKING ON SIDE SHOT OF PODIUM WIDE OF NEWS CONFEREN
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany, Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAVTOG1698IU6OH2CUGFKB7F9M
  • Story Text: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, members of the country's opposition said in Germany on Friday (February 10) where they demanded more international support for their cause.
    Speaking at a news conference, Syrian national Council (SNC) member Ferhad Ahma said "Bashar al-Assad and his closest allies must be made responsible in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague for what they have done."
    "It is also the responsibility of the international community. What is happening in Syria concerns us all and we are all responsible for it."
    Ahma said "this is an appeal by the Syrian population to you, the German public and the international community: if you don't support us as quickly as possible, you risk big massacres taking place in Syria which can lead to an armed conflict."
    His comments coincided with reports of twin bomb blasts hitting Syrian military and security buildings in the northern city of Aleppo on Friday, killing 25 people in the worst violence to hit the country's commercial hub in the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
    Elias Parebo, a former environmental activist turned human rights advocate, told the same berlin news conference "the German government too must become a lot more active in our view, especially what concerns the support of activists in Syria."
    Parebo suggested Germany could "begin with very small, relatively simple measures such as evacuating and treating at German hospitals those activists who have been wounded and shot at and who are currently fleeing to Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey."
    Bolstered by Russian support, Assad has ignored appeals from the United States, Turkey, Europeans, fellow Arabs and other governments to halt the repression and to step down.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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