LONDON – Former Syrian Air Force Colonel Unfit for Trial in Landmark UK Case

A significant ruling was made Friday regarding a former Syrian air force colonel, Salem Al Salem, who has been charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity linked to a 2011 assault on civilians. The judge declared him unfit to stand trial.

During proceedings at the Central Criminal Court, a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of the 58-year-old Al Salem after prosecutors acknowledged medical evaluations indicating his rare neurological condition was too severe for him to participate in a trial.

Judge Bobby Cheema-Glubb noted that while Al Salem will face trial next year for charges of murder and torture, he would not be required to attend court. The trial will explore whether he committed the alleged acts but, due to his health status, it will not lead to a conviction.

Al Salem is the first individual charged with murder as a crime against humanity in the UK under the International Criminal Court Act of 2001. This legislation allows British authorities to pursue certain international crimes, including crimes against humanity and torture, regardless of their location.

Prosecutors have asserted that Al Salem was involved in a Syrian air force intelligence unit that suppressed protests in the suburb of Jobar during the regime’s harsh crackdown against dissent during the Arab Spring.

Prosecutor Emily Pottle previously described Al Salem’s actions, stating he was “tasked with quelling civilian protests,” instructing officers to shoot demonstrators and personally killing protesters. She characterized these acts as part of a systematic assault on civilians.

Al Salem, who appeared in court via video link and with an oxygen mask, is afflicted with a progressive form of motor neuron disease, impacting all his limbs and impairing cognitive function and communication abilities, as detailed by prosecutor Tom Little.

Dr. Little referenced a medical report that described the defendant’s condition as advanced, noting associated symptoms like depression, apathy, and severe speech difficulties. He mentioned, “The defendant is monosyllabic and only close relatives can really understand.”

He faces charges connected to the deaths of Omar al-Homsi, Nizar Fayoumi al-Khatib, and Talhat Dalal between April and July of 2011, along with additional charges related to the murder of Muhammad Salim Zahrak Balik.

Moreover, Al Salem is accused of torturing three other individuals during his official duties, reportedly being present and involved in interrogations where detainees were subjected to beatings, electric shocks, and inhumane treatment.