Majdi Nema, also known as Islam Allouch, initially planned to spend only a few months in France. As part of an exchange program at Aix-Marseille University, he arrived in France with the intention of studying research and the Arab and Islamic worlds. However, his plans were disrupted when he was arrested in January 2020, barely two months after his arrival.
Nema, formerly associated with the Jaysh al-Islam (Jeish al-Islam or JAI), a Syrian rebel group, is accused of being complicit in war crimes, specifically including the enlisting of minors and involvement in a group aimed at committing such crimes. Nema served as the spokesperson for JAI between 2013 and 2016. His upcoming trial, scheduled to start on April 29, marks the first legal examination of the atrocities suspected to have been committed by JAI during the Syrian civil war, which commenced in 2011.
At its zenith, JAI is believed to have had approximately 15,000 members, predominantly operating in Damascus and the eastern part of Ghouta against the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. During their campaign, they have been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including kidnapping, torture, execution, and the use of civilians as human shields.
As further developments unfold, the article includes discussions on the legal implications of Nema’s case, the ongoing debates over a comprehensive justice system in Syria, and the potential impact on international law.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/france-syrian-man-on-trial-for-alleged-war-crimes/a-72357755?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
