The German Constitutional Court decreed that Arabic-speaking journalists should be entitled to an interpreter during the first criminal trial worldwide on torture in Syria.
The Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) confirmed in a statement today that Arabic interpretation would be provided to journalists, after the Constitutional Court approved a petition submitted by Syrian journalist and human rights activist Mansour Al-Omari and a representative of the Syrian Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC), on August 13.
Mansour Al-Omari said that, “This ruling is a victory for freedom of the press and the right to information in Germany,” revealing that the Constitutional Court has ordered the Koblenz court to pay the full costs of the complaint. The ruling will not be limited to the Koblenz trial, but is supposed to include similar future trials in Germany.
Al-Omari explained that, “The cases filed in Germany include representatives of the Syrian regime’s accused of committing crimes against Syrian civilians in Syria. As Syrian journalists and non-governmental organizations, we will be able to follow the trial directly and cover the story in our mother tongue.”
Arabic translation was available to the accused and plaintiffs, and thanks to what Al-Omri called “German justice that protects freedom of press and right to information,” so do the journalists.
Attorney Mike Elster, who drafted the petition with attorney Björn Elberling, said that, “The initial ruling issued by the Constitutional Court affects two of the plaintiffs’ basic rights: the right to equal treatment and the right to freedom of the press. Thanks to this decision, Syrian journalists can now follow this monumental trial and report on it in detail, making it accessible for the Syrian public.”
Secretary-General of the ECCHR, Wolfgang Kallik, said that, “Not only should all parties be able to follow this procedure, but many Syrians around the world want to be informed. Therefore, access to a translation in court is essential for Arabic-speaking journalists and activists. With this decision, the German judiciary sets an important precedent for future trials.”
Zaman Al Wasl
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