The Syrian dictator is no longer allowed to visit France

The Paris Court of Appeal on Wednesday, June 26, confirmed French arrest warrant for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity related to the 2013 chemical attacks, writes AFP.

A court in Paris ruled that Assad can be arrested for chemical weapons attacks in Syria in August 2013, which led to the death of dozens of people.

French prosecutors from a unit specializing in the investigation of terrorist attacks tried to quash the warrant.

They argued that the immunity of foreign heads of state can only be withdrawn in the event of international prosecution, for example in the International Criminal Court – and emphasized that they were not trying to cast doubt on the evidence of Assad’s involvement in the chemical attacks.

The French anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office can still appeal the decision to France’s highest court – Court of Cassation.

The plaintiffs' lawyers Clémence Bectart, Jeanne Sulzer and Clémence Witt called the decision of the Paris Court of Appeal historic. “For the first time, a national court has recognized that the current head of state does not have full personal immunity,” – they said.

France is believed to have become the first country to issue an arrest warrant for a sitting foreign head of state in November 2023. They want to arrest Bashar Assad for his involvement in chemical attacks in August 2013, which killed more than 1,400 people.

In addition to Assad, France has issued arrest warrants for his brother Maher – the then head of the Syrian army division – and two generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan.

Prepared by: Nina Petrovich