Arrest Warrant Issued: France Targets Syrian President Assad

As the civil war in Syria continues to rage on and innocent civilians struggle to survive, the situation has been taken to a new level. France has now taken action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by issuing an arrest warrant for his involvement in war crimes. This warrant is important for the international community as it sends a strong message that perpetrators of war crimes will not be allowed to go unpunished. Despite the Syria conflict continuing for the past seven years, the warrant is perhaps the clearest indication yet of the country’s descent into chaos and lawlessness. The warrant leverages the French legal system to allege that Assad has perpetrated grave and systematic violations of human rights. This includes extrajudicial executions, torture, and forced displacement. This warrant serves as a reminder to countries around the world that international law is still in effect and cannot be disregarded. Assad has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has stated that he is fighting a democratic battle against terrorist organizations. While his actions have certainly been abhorrent, the warrant issued by France has sparked an interesting debate about the legality of his actions as the Head of State. The arrest warrant for Assad is one of the first of its kind as international law dictates that a sitting head of state cannot be detained by all international jurisdictions. France is in a unique position as it has previously expressed a willingness to go after those that have committed war crimes, so this warrant further cements their stance in the matter. Although it remains unclear as to if and when Assad will be arrested, it is clear that France’s actions present a powerful reminder that the international community will not stand idle in the wake of such atrocities. Assad can no longer claim impunity from justice as his actions have now caught the attention of the international community.