An Austrian court filed a lawsuit against a former general in the Syrian Intelligence, who took refuge in Austria in June 2015, over his involvement in torture and abuses against detainees in the eastern province of Raqqa.
With evidence collected by a human rights organization and the International Justice and Accountability Committee (CIJA), an Austrian court began lawsuit against the Brigadier-General Khalid Halabi, who was the head of State Security in Raqqa.
During his trial, Halabi tried to prove that he was not involved in any abuses against the Syrian people, saying he defected in March 2013. Then, he fled through Turkey and into France, before settling in Austria.
When he settled in the Traiskirchen refugee camp in an attempt to seek asylum, a number of his victims were in the same camp and were able to recognize him.
Obada al-Hamada and his brother Alaa, former detainees of the state in Raqqa told Zaman al-Wasl about some aspects of their detention and how the Brigadier General Halabi tortured and humiliated them until Raqqa fell into the hands of the Syrian opposition.
In February 2012, Obada was informed that the security was watching his house.
After going out to run an errand, Obada was stopped by five people who surrounded him and pointed guns at him.
They threatened to kill him if he made any movement.
They then put him in the back of their car, blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back. They started to beat and humiliate him, before throwing him to the ground in a very humiliating way.
Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-regime protests.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
