Damascus, Aug. 12 (SANA)Death sentences issued by Damascus’Fourth Criminal Courtagainst fugitive criminals Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, the criminal Atef Najib and others complied with required legal procedures and safeguards, DamascusAttorney General Judge Hossam Khattabtold SANA on Wednesday.

Khattab described the rulings as a significant milestone for Syrian justice, saying the Damascus judiciary had sought to conduct the trial with a high degree of precision and impartiality from the first hearings through the issuance of the verdict, while ensuring public proceedings and defense rights.

Observers given access to proceedings

Khattab said Damascus judicial authorities provided the legal and logistical requirements for the hearings, including a suitable courtroom and access for representatives of accredited local and international human rights and humanitarian organizations, media correspondents and victims’ relatives.

Observers were allowed to follow and document the proceedings without obstruction, he said.

Khattab said the court based its detailed ruling on material evidence and documented criminal facts drawn from investigations and testimony presented during the proceedings.

Trial conducted under Syrian Penal Code

He said the court relied on Syria’s applicable Penal Code, particularly provisions concerning intentional killing, torture and arbitrary detention, as well as principles of international criminal law concerning crimes against humanity.

Khattab said the court considered the facts of the case according to the legal responsibility of each defendant and the defendant’s role in the acts attributed to him.

He said that the ruling is an expression of the independence of the national judiciary and a measure upholding victim’s right.

Trade union federation backs judicial rulings

The General Federation of Trade Unionsin Syria said in a statement issued Wednesday by its executive office that the Fourth Criminal Court’s rulings represented a first step in the transitional justice process and toward restoring victims’ rights.

The federation said killings, torture, displacement and systematic massacres committed by the former regime amounted to crimes against humanity that are not subject to statutes of limitations under international laws and conventions.

It said Tuesday’s ruling provided redress for the families of victims, detainees and missing persons.

The federation called for arrest warrants to be sent to Interpol to pursue fugitives, arrest them and bring them before the courts. It called for efforts to recover funds it said had been taken from the Syrian people.

The federation said it stood with the Syrian people in declaring an end to impunity and moving toward a new phase based on justice, the rule of law and protection of human dignity.

The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, headed by Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, issued its ruling Tuesday in the case against Atef Najib and several fugitive defendants.

The court sentenced the fugitive criminals Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, Najib and five other fugitives to death after convicting them of killings, torture, deprivation of liberty, crimes against humanity and war crimes. While proceedings in the public prosecution against defendant Mohammad Ayman Ayoush were terminated following the confirmation of his death.