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Arrest of a Syrian in Pirmasens: Accusations of torture shake the family
Fahad A. was arrested in Pirmasens, accused of torture in Syria. His family hopes for justice and a fair trial.
Arrest of a Syrian in Pirmasens: Accusations of torture shake the family
Fahad A., 47 years old, was arrested on May 29, 2025 in Pirmasens by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). He is accused of torturing prisoners as a prison guard for the Syrian “Intelligence Department 251” in Damascus between 2011 and 2012. According to federal prosecutors, at least 70 prisoners are said to have died as a result of his methods. The arrest comes as a surprise to the family, who have been living in Germany since 2021. They previously lived in Turkey and consist of Fahad A., his wife Ilam Ramadan and five children. Ilam describes him as someone who treated prisoners well and did not embody the image of a brutal torture specialist.
There are different views on Fahad A.'s role on social media. While some see him as a notorious intelligence officer, there are also those who report that he gave prisoners access to medication. A complex account of his role is supported by the fact that in a 2015 interview with Al-Jazeera he claimed to have informed about the Assad regime's crimes.
Damaging witness reports
Fahad A. was mentioned in the trial of Anwar R., the deputy head of Torture Prison 251. A Syrian human rights lawyer claimed that Fahad A. was a senior officer and had handed over important documents to him. The case became particularly explosive due to the transmission of internal documents to German authorities that could be incriminating for him. Anwar Al-Bunni, another human rights lawyer, reports incriminating testimony against Fahad A.
According to Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard, Bashar al-Assad is responsible for many human rights crimes in Syria, including enforced disappearances, murder and torture. The opposition forces are called on to distance themselves from past violence and to focus on justice. Amnesty sees a historic opportunity to end serious human rights violations and calls for investigations into people who have committed crimes under international law. Those responsible should be held accountable through fair trials without resort to the death penalty.
Fahad A.'s family expresses hope for a fair trial. They receive support from schools and the local police, who show solidarity. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has not yet released any further details about the case as pressure grows on the judiciary to pay attention to civil society in Germany and the vigilant international context.