Survivor of Syrian chemical attack on ordeal, NGO reax

A group of Syrian chemical attack survivors and Syrian rights groups have filed a criminal complaint in France over two August 2013 attacks outside Damascus, pointing to the alleged responsibility of the Syrian government in what would constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Taher Hijazi, a victim of the gas attacks in Syria in 2013 used to document the violations of the Syrian regime.

Hijazi said that it was expected that the regime will target the area of Ghouta but it was shocking when they targeted civilians with Sarin Gas.

Hijazi believes that this lawsuit is a starting point in the course of justice.

The suit concerns 2013 attacks in Douma and the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta.

Alkilani AlMoutassim, from the Litigation Project manager at Syrian Media Centre (SMC) said that some of the survivors are still suffering from side effects of the attack.

It is the second such effort in Europe in recent months seeking accountability in chemical attacks.

In October, human rights groups filed a criminal complaint in Germany asking prosecutors to act over the 2013 sarin attack in Eastern Ghouta and a 2017 attack in the town of Khan Shaykhun.

They stand out as among the worst in the Syrian conflict.

Germany has the principle of "universal jurisdiction," which allows its courts to investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity even if they were committed by foreign nationals on foreign territory.

The French action is based on extraterritorial competence because the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, among the civil parties in the case, is based in France along with some of the survivors.

The New York-based Open Society Justice Initiative has joined with the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression or SCM, and Syrian Archive to file their suits in both France and Germany.

The complaint, which contains testimony from survivors, includes hundreds of photos and video and an analysis of the Syrian military chain of command.