Syrian Convicted in Austria of Civil War Abuses Is Detained in Syria

Musab Abu Rukbah, a former police chief, left Austria after appealing his eight-year sentence for crimes committed during Syria’s civil war. By Carlotta Gall and Hussam Hammoud Carlotta Gall and Hussam Hammoud reported from Syria and covered the trial in Vienna of two former officials convicted of abuses during the country’s civil war. When a court in Vienna last month convicted two former Syrian officials of abuses during their country’s civil war, the case was celebrated as a groundbreaking pursuit of justice for victims of the fallen Syrian dictatorship. But weeks later, one of those convicted, Musab Abu Rukbah, a former police chief, left Austria and traveled back to Syria after appealing his eight-year sentence. Now the Syrian government has announced that it has arrested him.

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