For Immediate Release
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) today welcomed an announcement that France has opened the world’s first criminal inquiry into torture in Syria.
“After more than four years of well-documented cases of torture and enforced disappearance in Syria, we welcome the French government’s decision to investigate these abuses,” said Stefan Schmitt, PHR's director of the International Forensic Program. "Based on a preliminary analysis of the photographic evidence, we know it is possible to identify specific injuries caused by torture as well as infer the cause of death in some cases. We hope this is just the first of many actions that will lead to justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible for these crimes."
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.