Syrian sentenced to 26 years in prison by Dutch court for crimes against humanity

A Syrian national accused of crimes against humanity was sentenced on Monday to 26 years in prison by a Dutch court for the torture and rape of imprisoned opponents of the government of former president Bashar Assad during the civil war.

The man, identified only as Rafiq al Q. due to Dutch privacy regulations, went on trial in April facing charges including torture, sexual abuse and rape. The 58-year-old denied being involved and accused alleged victims and police of conspiring against him.

The sentence handed down by the District Court of The Hague is the latest against Syrian suspects in different countries since Assad was toppled from power in a decisive rebel offensive in December 2024 that followed years of grinding civil war. Assad fled Syria to longtime ally Russia.

The cases have cast light on the widespread killings and abuse in dozens of detention centers across Syria while Assad was in power. Torture, brutality, sexual violence and mass executions were rampant, according to activists, rights group and former prisoners.

Read more: ABC News