One of the problems with western Europe’s ‘open door’ police on Syrian migrants is the genuine risk of war criminals taking advantage of the crisis in order to hide in Europe. After receiving such generous support from western governments and media while fighting in Syria, many terrorists feel safe retreating to the homelands of their western benefactors, as well as realising the benefits on offer from EU member state and UK governments.
The following case is bizarre based on the lack of available information about the defendant and the details of his crimes, but this landmark case might lead to similar convictions in Europe, as thousands of ‘rebel’ terrorists attempt to blend in with bona fide Syrian refugees…
AFP – A Syrian migrant has been jailed for life in Austria for executing 20 wounded government soldiers in his home country.
The court in the western city of Innsbruck announced its ruling late on Wednesday after a jury found the 27-year-old guilty of 20 charges of “murder as a terror offence”.
The man, who denied the charges, was detained in a refugee shelter in Tyrol state last June after being denounced by a fellow Syrian.
According to Austrian media, the accused had boasted to other asylum seekers of belonging to a rebel unit and shooting unarmed or injured troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar-al Assad.
After his arrest, the man initially admitted to the 2013-2014 killings in the western region of Homs but later retracted his confession, saying his testimony had been badly translated.
The translator rejected this in court: “The defendant told me he had shot badly wounded soldiers. I asked him to repeat his claim and he did.”
The man, who was not named, was tried for war crimes under Austrian law.
Austria could not extradite him to face charges in Syria because of the bloody six-year civil war pitting Assad’s troops against rebel groups.
READ MORE SYRIA NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Syria Files
SUPPORT 21WIRE – SUBSCRIBE & BECOME A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV