Dr Yasmine Nahlawi, head of SBC’s Investigations Team, spoke at the second Syrian Civil Society Chemical Weapons Conference on 22 November 2024. The conference followed one year after Syrian civil society organisations published a call for the establishment of an exceptional tribunal to prosecute the use of chemical weapons. Dr Nahlawi spoke before an audience of States, international organisations, and civil society…

SBC’s Investigations Team handed over information, including on potential witnesses, to the US Department of Justice, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Unit on 24 October 2024 pertaining to the ongoing Sheikh case. Samir Sheikh, a former high-ranking Assad regime official, is currently being held in the United States on visa fraud charges. Syrian civil society organisations and supporters are pushing to have…

SBC’s Investigations Team met with the US Department of Justice, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Unit on 18 October 2024 to discuss potential support that SBC may be able to provide regarding the Sheikh case. Samir Sheikh, a former high-ranking Assad regime official, is currently being held in the United States on visa fraud charges. Syrian civil society organisations and supporters are…

Sema Nassar, an investigator with the Syrian British Consortium’s investigation team, participated in a private workshop titled “Long-Term Accountability for Human Rights Violations in North Korea,” organized by the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) in collaboration with Ambassador Julie Turner and Ambassador Beth Van Schaack from the U.S. Department of State. The workshop was held in Seoul, South Korea, on October…

Syria Notes conducted an interview with the head of SBC’s Investigations Team, Dr Yasmine Nahlawi, regarding the team’s work in documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria and building case files against perpetrators. The resulting article, published on 10 September 2024, discussed the Team’s past achievements and future plans, and outlined the role that the new UK Government should have…

SBC’s Investigations Team was informed by the International Olympic Committee that Omar Aroub, former member of the National Union of Syrian Students (NUSS) and suspected war criminal, does not have accreditation to attend the summer 2024 Paris Olympics. Aroub was originally scheduled to attend the Olympics as the Vice President of the Syria General Sports Federation and the Chairman of the Syrian…

SBC’s Investigations Team formally filed a criminal complaint with the French prosecutors against Omar Aroub on 24 July 2024. Aroub was scheduled to attend the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will take place later this month and next month. Following an intense public pressure campaign co-led by SBC’s Investigations Team and The Syria Campaign, it has been confirmed that Aroub will no longer…