Article Title
Abstract
In recent years, the international community has closely monitored the actions of Syrian president, Bashar-al Assad. Since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, President Assad has continued to incite widespread violence throughout Syria by committing mass atrocities that violate international laws. There is evidence to provide proof of President Assad’s connection to his crimes and that his crimes have killed and displaced millions of Syrians. However, the legalities of indicting a head of state and the special interests between the members of the United Nations Security Council create obstacles that make prosecuting President Assad near impossible in a traditional international court. This paper analyzes the prospects of President Assad being indicted by the international community and tried in a court for violating international laws. The cases of Slobodan Milošević and Charles Taylor are used to closely examine both the similarities and differences as they apply to President Assad. The close examinations and comparisons of these cases serve as the method in determining the best model for achieving an indictment and trial for President Assad. This paper further examines how the creation and implementation of a special tribunal for President Assad’s case is the best available option for indicting President Assad on international law charges and holding a trial for his case.
Recommended Citation
Staubus, Alexis
(2019)
"Prospects for Justice and Accountability in Syria,"
Augsburg Honors Review: Vol. 12, Article 7.
Available at:
https://idun.augsburg.edu/honors_review/vol12/iss1/7