Canada and the Netherlands have brought Syria before the international court of justice (ICJ), seeking urgent measures to stop the mistreatment of thousands of people still in detention.
"Every day counts," René Lefeber, the top representative for the Netherlands, told the court. "Persons in Syria who are currently detained or at risk of being detained cannot afford to wait any longer." Damascus snubbed the first day of hearings and has previously dismissed the case as "disinformation and lies", saying the allegations "lack the slightest degree of credibility".
Lefeber cited wrenching testimony from detainees, describing gang rapes, mutilation and a "standardised" punishment method involving contorting people into a car tyre and administering a "severe beating".
This story is from the October 11, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 11, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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