Belgium investigates 19 suspected Syrian war criminals on its soil

Belgian authorities are actively investigating 19 suspected Syrian war criminals believed to be residing in the country, according to data released by the Federal Prosecutor's Office on Thursday. The investigations focus on alleged violations of international humanitarian law committed during the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which fell in late 2024, and include cases involving Islamic State fighters who operated in Syria.

Link to the Damascus Dossier Leaks

The figures emerged in connection with the "Damascus Dossier," an international journalistic investigation coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with contributions from Belgian media outlets. The project analyzed over 134,000 leaked documents from Syrian intelligence services, revealing systematic torture and suggesting that regime supporters and perpetrators of atrocities may have found refuge in Belgium, prompting inquiries within the Syrian diaspora.

Official Case Statistics and Judicial Process

Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Yasmina Vanoverschelde provided details, stating that Belgian authorities have opened a total of 27 case files related to Syrian war crimes. Of these, eight have been closed without further action, leaving 19 ongoing criminal investigations. Four of these active cases are currently before an investigating judge, moving forward in the judicial system.

Challenges in Prosecution and Resource Constraints

Despite the active caseload, experts express skepticism about Belgium's capacity to successfully prosecute these complex international crimes. Brigitte Herremans, a specialist at Ghent University, cited persistent shortages in staff and police investigators dedicated to war crimes units as a major hurdle. While the Prosecutor's Office has received some reinforcements, it acknowledges a long-standing resource deficit that could impede bringing these cases to trial, highlighting the practical challenges of universal jurisdiction efforts in Europe.