The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office is trying 48-year-old Fahad A., charging him with “70 counts of murder, as well as crimes against humanity through killings, torture, and deprivation of liberty.”
The man was able to apply for asylum in Germany in 2023 as a war refugee, but now, the prosecution alleges that the defendant served as a prison guard and secret service agent who partook in brutal forms of torture while serving the former regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Fahad A. was initially able to live with his family in Pirmasens, located in Germany’s western Palatinate, until his alleged past came to light and Federal Criminal Police Office arrested him in May 2025.
Investigators allege that Fahad A. served as a non-commissioned officer within the Syrian secret service, specifically working as a guard at the infamous Al-Khatib prison in Damascus, according to Bild newspaper.
This prison is widely recognized as a site where thousands of activists, political opposition members, and Syrian citizens were systematically tortured and abused.
The indictment states that between April 2011 and April 2012, Fahad A. allegedly tortured at least 115 individuals. Despite the charges against him, he entered court holding up a “V” sign with his fingers for victory and smiled as the charges were read out to him.
The indictment detailed torture methods that involved the use of electric shocks, beatings with cables and blunt objects, and waterboarding to simulate drowning. It is further alleged that prisoners were doused with cold water throughout the night to induce extreme terror.
It remains unclear how investigators identified the defendant’s role in these alleged crimes.
The prosecution also highlighted the cruelty of “welcome parties,“ during which new arrivals were reportedly beaten so severely that some succumbed to their injuries the very same day. During the defendant’s tenure at the prison, at least 70 people lost their lives.
Fahad A.’s attorney, Jamil Azem, stated at the beginning of the court proceedings: “I expect a fair trial, and that at the end it will be determined that he was at the very bottom of the chain of command and not responsible for such atrocities.“
Some survivors and family members of those murdered are hoping for justice.
Feras Fayyad, a Syrian filmmaker who was previously detained at the same prison, shared his perspective: “I hope he is confronted with every single act and what he has done to us and our lives. I hope for justice.“
This trial, which may continue until 2027, is poised to be a landmark case in Germany’s efforts to address Syrian war crimes.
At the same time, questions are being raised about how a man allegedly involved in so many atrocities was able to enter Europe, travel across the continent, and gain access to German territory. It further highlights the threat of jihadists and war criminals entering Europe with little to no oversight or supervision. It also raises the possibility that others involved in atrocities in the Middle East, North Africa, or other locations are currently residing in Europe undetected.
With roughly 1 million Syrians currently residing in Germany, the case underscores the ongoing challenge of distinguishing victims from the perpetrators of the conflicts they fled.
In fact, Fahad A. is not the first person to be tried for similar crimes. In 2024, Anwar R. was sentenced to life in prison in Germany for his role in torturing prisoners to death for Assad. In addition, Eyad A. was sentenced to four years for aiding and abetting Anwar R. In addition, Alaa M. was arrested by German police for torturing detainees in Homs for the Assad regime.
The post Germany: Syrian asylum seeker Fahad A. on trial for murdering 70 people, torturing 115 appeared first on Remix News.
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