A former Syrian army general, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Hamo, living in Sweden, was acquitted by a Swedish court of aiding and abetting war crimes in Syria. Prosecutors alleged that he provided weapons for attacks on military and civilian targets in Homs and Hama in 2012, but the court found insufficient evidence to convict him. Hamo, the highest-ranking military officer to stand trial in Europe for Syrian human rights violations, fled to Turkey in 2012 and later sought asylum in Sweden. The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has led to over half a million deaths and displaced millions.
The court case included plaintiffs who lost loved ones in the attacks, including journalists injured in a media center bombing. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the trial, Hamo’s involvement with the Syrian army raised concerns. Whether the prosecution will appeal the acquittal remains to be seen. The case sheds light on the challenges of holding individuals accountable for war crimes committed in foreign conflicts.