Case: Walid Al Z. -

Walid Al Z. was suspected of having committed serious war crimes as a member of ISIS between May and June 2015. Prosecutors accused him of being involved in a public humiliation of a civilian at a roundabout in the Syrian town of Al-Sawana, as well as aiding and abetting the murder of two person protected under international humanitarian law who were allegedly executed on a public square in the same town. On 5 March 2024, Walid Al Z. was indicted at the Blekinge District Court for war crimes of murder of persons protected under IHL and humiliating and degrading treatment of another person. After a trial that was largely held behind closed doors, the accused was acquitted on all counts. The judges found that while there was no doubt that the events actually took place, they were not convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the accused’s participation therein. In particular, the judges found interview transcripts provided by foreign authorities and in particular provided by non-governmental organisations to be of limited evidentiary value. At the same time, the case largely relied on witness testimony. The credibility of these was assessed at length by the judges, among others taking into account the statements of a trauma expert on how memory of traumatic experiences from a long time ago can be impacted. In sum, the judges found that all evidence taken together could not beyond reasonable doubt establish that Walid Al Z. Was indeed involved in the public humiliation of a person at a roundabout in Al-Sawana. The court came to the same conclusion regarding the alleged two murders for which Walid Al Z was charged with as war crimes. Walid Al Z. was thus acquitted on all counts.