According to British authorities, Salem Al-Salem, 58, is accused in a landmark prosecution. The charges stem from his alleged activities in Damascus in 2011. At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Salem appeared over a video link while slumped in an armchair and with a breathing tube connected to his mouth. The court heard Salem has motor neurone disease and is now essentially housebound. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring refused a bid by Salem’s lawyers for him not to be named as the defendant after hearing opposition from the press. Judge Goldspring agreed that Salem did not have to say his name out loud due to his health conditions.
Salem is accused of involvement in the murders of four named people – Omar Al-Homsi, Nizar Fayoumi-AlKhatib, Mohammed Salim Zahrak Balik and Talhat Dalal in April and July 2011. It is said he was 'responsible for killing' three of the victims 'as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population'. He is accused of 'conduct ancillary to' the murder of Mr Balik. Salem also faces claims of torture against three people 'in the performance or purported performance of his official duties' on dates between August 2011 and March 2012. It is said the crimes happened when Salem was serving as a colonel in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence (SAFI) while leading a group that attempted to put an end to demonstrations in the village of Jobar, near Damascus, in April 2011.
'The case concerns the demonstrations which took place in the suburbs of Damascus from April 2011', a CPS case summary handed to the judge set out. 'It is alleged that Mr al-Salem led a group of militants tasked with quelling the demonstrations in the Jobar area which lies East of the city’s centre. The demonstrations mostly occurred on Fridays after noon prayers.' Police said the charges relate to demonstrations which took place in the suburbs of Damascus from April 2011.
The defendant was first arrested on December 1 2021 and was released on bail until the charges were announced. He was served with a written notice of the allegations after a four-year investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing’s (CTP) war crimes unit. According to police, he faces three counts of murder, three counts of torture, and one charge of conduct ancillary to murder. This marks the first prosecution of its kind in the UK.
Salem sat with a senior police officer and an interpreter for the court hearing as Judge Goldspring agreed to release him on bail with a string of conditions. 'He is in no physical state to be a flight risk,' observed the judge. Salem must live and sleep at home as part of his bail conditions, he is under a 24-hour curfew except for 'exceptional medical circumstances' and he must present himself to police on request. Judge Goldspring sent the case to the Old Bailey for a hearing on Friday in front of Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb.
Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads CTP London, said it had been an incredibly complex and challenging investigation, requiring close cooperation with many international partners. Ms Flanagan said: 'The charges are extremely serious and show that we fully support the UK’s ‘no safe haven’ policy in relation alleged war criminals.' Bethan David, Head of the CPS’s Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'We have determined that a 58-year-old man should be prosecuted with charges of murder as a crime against humanity, and torture.' The specific evidence or testimonies that led to the charges have not been disclosed. How Salem Al-Salem came to live in the UK, and what his immigration status was, remains unclear.