A former general charged with war crimes during Syria’s civil war was acquitted by a court in Stockholm on Thursday. Brigadier General Mohammed Hamo, accused of aiding and abetting war crimes in the first half of 2012, had the highest rank of any Syrian military official to go on trial in Europe. The charges related to attacks on towns in Hama and Homs from January to July 2012.
The Stockholm court found the evidence presented by the prosecution insufficient to convict Hamo, citing a lack of proof of his involvement in attacks or providing weapons. Chief prosecutor Karolina Wieslander described the case as challenging due to the ongoing war in Syria, making it hard to gather evidence.
Aida Samani of Civil Rights Defenders emphasized the significance of the trial as the first to address Syrian military warfare. Hamo, who sought asylum in Sweden in 2015, previously fled to Turkey and joined an anti-regime group. The conflict in Syria, which began in 2011, has led to over half a million deaths and massive displacement.
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