The Higher Regional Court in Koblenz continues to refuse audio recordings of the al-Khatib trial, the world's first trial addressing #torture & human rights violations in #Syria. The courts reasoning? The trial is not of outstanding historical significance for Germany.
👇Thread
👇Thread
In July, together with Syrian, German & international scholars, activists & NGOs, we demanded to record the final phase of the #alKhatib trial to make it accessible to future generations.
Read the joint statement: ecchr.eu/en/press-relea…
Read the joint statement: ecchr.eu/en/press-relea…
The senate refuses a recording & states: The trial is important for the Syrian people but has no historical significance for Germany. By doing so, the court ignores its responsibility to those affected &fails to recognize: Syria's crimes affect the entire international community.
In Germany, trials are not documented by the courts by default, e.g. through recordings or protocols. Courts can order to record trials of outstanding importance. But: they rarely do so - and thus disregard the historical significance of trials like #alKhatib.
The al-Khatib trial can not only play a key role in addressing the past & current atrocities in Syria, but is above all important for the Syrians affected, their relatives & the culture of remembrance in Syria. This must also be recognized by the court.
We demand: International criminal trials with outstanding importance like the #alKhatib trial must be recorded! The law must clarify that trials on the most serious crimes against humanity must be recorded & made accessible for future generations, science & education.
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