Case: Mustafa A. -

Mustafa A., a 36-year old Syrian man, has been sentenced to a prison term of 12 years, for complicity in the crimes against humanity of serious deprivation of liberty and torture; for the participation in a criminal organisation (Liwa al-Quds) whose aim is to commit war crimes (in this case looting and physical violence) and crimes against humanity; and lastly, for complicity in torture (as a domestic charge). Mustafa A. had reportedly been living in the Netherlands since 2020, and was arrested in May 2022. The court determined that the suspect was a leader within Liwa al-Quds, a militia that was a loyal ally of the Syrian regime. Mustafa A., forcibly took a Palestinian man from his home, which was then detained and tortured for 20 days by the LID (Syria's infamous Air Force Intelligence Service). Mustafa A. was acquitted for torture, torture and unlawful deprivation of liberty of a second victim, because in the court's opinion it had not been sufficiently established that the suspect was involved.