By Chris Summers

A former officer in Syria’s air force intelligence ‌appeared in court in London on March 10, charged with multiple murders, crimes against humanity, and torture relating to demonstrations against the Assad regime in 2011 and 2012.

Salem Michel Al-Salem—who lives in Britain—appeared on a videolink from his home for the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London.

On March 9, al-Salem, 58, was charged with three counts of murder as a ⁠crime against humanity, one count of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity, and three charges of torture.

In a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service said, “It is alleged that in his role as a colonel in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence department (AFI), Al-Salem led a group tasked with quelling demonstrations in the suburbs of Damascus.”

During the so-called Arab Spring in 2011, pro-democracy protesters rose up against the regime of the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, but the demonstrations were violently crushed, before a civil war broke out.

Assad finally fled to Moscow in December 2024, bringing an end his 24-year rule.

Assad’s father, Hafez, had ruled Syria between 1971 and his death in 2000.

Suspect Wears Breathing Apparatus

Al-Salem wore an oxygen mask in court, and the hearing heard ​he is suffering from degenerative motor neurone disease.

He did not speak during the hearing and was not given an opportunity to enter a plea or indicate the nature of his defense.

Al-Salem’s lawyer Sean Caulfield said his client, who was first arrested at an address in central England in December 2021, was not well enough even to confirm his name.

Caulfield had applied to the court for his client’s identity to be kept secret, arguing his safety would be at risk if it was published.

But England’s ⁠chief magistrate Paul Goldspring rejected the application, agreeing instead to prevent the publication of al-Salem’s address.

The hearing heard the allegations relate to deaths in April and July 2011 “as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack.”

The prosecutors say al-Salem was a colonel in the Syrian air force intelligence department who was responsibly for the district of Jobar, a suburb of Damascus.

Al-Salem, who has sought indefinite leave to remain in Britain, is accused of ​ordering his men to open fire on pro-democracy protesters, which ​led to the deaths of several people.

He also is accused of taking part in, or being present at, the torture of several men at the AFI’s information branch building in Damascus.

He will appear again on March 13 at the Central Criminal Court in London, which is where he would eventually face trial, either later this year or in 2027.

Releasing him on conditional bail, Goldspring said he did not believe he was a flight risk because of his health.

‘Incredibly Complex … Investigation’

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement, “This has been an incredibly complex and challenging investigation, involving enquiries across many countries.”

“The charges are extremely serious and show that we fully support the UK’s ‘no safe haven’ policy in relation alleged war criminals,“ Flanagan said. ”Where we are presented with allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity that fall within our jurisdiction, then, as we have shown here, we will not hesitate to investigate those rigorously and robustly.”

Under the 2001 International Criminal Court Act, individuals can be prosecuted for serious crimes—such as genocide and crimes against humanity—which have been committed ​abroad.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was the first time it had brought charges of murder ​as crimes against humanity under the legislation.

Faryadi Zardad, an Afghan warlord, was ​convicted and jailed for 20 years by a British court in 2005 for offenses of torture that had taken place in Afghanistan. He was deported back to Afghanistan in 2016.

The Epoch Times reached out to al-Salem’s lawyers for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

Reuters contributed to this report.