Khaled al-Fares, accused of facilitating the assassination of journalist Marie Colvin in 2012, has returned to Syria, inciting public outrage and demands for prosecution. Activists link him to war crimes and call for accountability amid continuing impunity for such crimes within the country. Colvin’s family has previously won a lawsuit against the Assad regime regarding her death, yet al-Fares remains unpunished, highlighting ongoing issues of justice in Syria.
Protests have erupted across Syria, particularly in Damascus, following the return of Khaled al-Fares, who is accused of war crimes during the Assad regime, notably for his role in the assassination of American journalist Marie Colvin in 2012. Activists and human rights organizations are demanding his prosecution due to his alleged involvement in tracking down Colvin, leading to her death in an artillery strike while she reported on the Syrian conflict.
Khaled al-Fares fled Syria after the Assad regime’s fall but returned to Damascus from Dubai recently. His presence has incited widespread anger, particularly after he reopened his car dealership on the Hama-Homs road. Reports indicate that al-Fares moves freely between Homs and Damascus despite the serious accusations against him, raising concerns among human rights advocates.
Evidence suggests that al-Fares was a key operative in a spy network under the Bashar Assad regime and was associated with the pro-Assad National Defense Forces in Homs. Testimonies from defectors link him directly to Colvin’s assassination, which occurred during her coverage of the conflict in Baba Amr. A U.S. court ruling in 2019 confirmed that Syrian forces intentionally targeted Colvin’s location based on intelligence from regime informants, possibly including al-Fares.
In addition to his involvement in Colvin’s assassination, al-Fares is accused of drug trafficking and leading a “death squad” responsible for numerous civilian massacres, including the violent attacks in Homs in 2011 and 2012. The Syrian Committee for Human Rights has urged the new government to hold him accountable instead of allowing him to operate freely.
Activists, such as Najm al-Din al-Najm, have condemned the lack of accountability for individuals like al-Fares, emphasizing the troubling trend of known criminals returning to Syria to reintegrate under a new regime. Al-Najm stated, “A notorious criminal is being reintroduced in Syria. … It seems many criminals are working to settle their status with the new regime, under public applause and media silence.” He accused al-Fares of providing critical intelligence to the regime which led to Colvin’s murder, thereby ensuring his survival and dignity within the regime.
Following allegations linking him to Colvin’s assassination, it is reported that al-Fares received a Hyundai Genesis as a reward from Maher al-Assad, the commander of the Fourth Division and brother of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Human rights activists assert that al-Fares’ participation in war crimes is well-documented, yet his return illustrates Syria’s ongoing struggle with accountability for leading figures of the past regime.
Colvin’s legacy as a prominent war correspondent includes her work in many conflict zones. In her final reports, she highlighted the plight of civilians under Assad’s siege in Homs before her targeted killing. Following her death, her family initiated a legal battle against the Assad regime, which culminated in a U.S. court ruling affirming that her assassination was a deliberate act to silence her.
The case of Khaled al-Fares underscores the pervasive issue of impunity in Syria following years of civil conflict. Tens of thousands of individuals have suffered, yet many alleged war criminals remain at large. The protests calling for justice in al-Fares’ case reflect a deep frustration among Syrians as they seek accountability for atrocities committed during the war.
Khaled al-Fares’ return to Syria has ignited widespread outrage and protests, highlighting ongoing demands for accountability relating to his alleged war crimes and involvement in the assassination of journalist Marie Colvin. Despite extensive evidence and international legal actions against the Assad regime, al-Fares has yet to face consequences for his actions, symbolizing a pervasive culture of impunity within Syria. Calls for justice continue to grow, as many Syrians seek recognition of the suffering endured during the conflict and the prosecution of individuals responsible for war crimes.
Original Source: themedialine.org
