10 March 2026
ASyrian man has been charged in the UK with crimes against humanityfor alleged offences against protesters in Syria during the uprising against the regime of former leader Bashar al-Assad in 2011.
Dr Alison Bisset, Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law at the University of Reading, said: “The charge of a former Syrian intelligence officer with crimes against humanity belies the reality the UK is, in many cases,a ‘safe haven’ for war criminals.
The UK’s law on the prosecution of international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, is highly restrictive. Universal jurisdiction allows for prosecution of international crimes wherever they are committed and regardless of the nationality of the victims and perpetrators. But in the UK, it is permitted only with respect to grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions 1949 and the crime of torture.
“Under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed abroad can only be prosecuted in British courts if they were committed by a British national or resident. The charge of a Syrian intelligence officer with murder and torture is therefore something of a rarity as the accused is suspected of crimes against humanity in Syriabut has been resident in the UK for a number of years. Had he not been resident, the UK could not have initiated prosecution proceedings, regardless of the seriousness of the crimes he is alleged to have committed.
“These jurisdictional limitations undermine the UK’s commitment to combatting impunity and ensuring accountability. In reality, alleged perpetrators of the most serious international crimes can travel into and out of the UK without fear of arrest or prosecution.
“To make the ‘no safe haven’ policy a reality,as many other European states have done, legislative reform is required to remove the requirement of citizenship or residence of the suspect. Strong legal reform would enable the UK to make a meaningful contribution to ending impunity for international crimes.”
Dr Alison Bisset is available for interview. Contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk
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