The hunt for justice against Syria's 'Butcher of Hama' and his European property empire
By
Ed Siddons
Summary
This article investigates the story of Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is accused of war crimes including orchestrating the 1982 Hama massacre that killed tens of thousands of Syrians. Known as the "Butcher of Hama," Rifaat al-Assad has evaded justice for decades while building a vast property empire across Europe, including luxury estates in France, Spain, and the UK. The piece follows Khaled Alkhani, a Syrian artist whose father was a victim of the massacre, as he seeks accountability. It details how Rifaat used diplomatic immunity, legal loopholes, and financial opacity to shield his assets and avoid prosecution, raising questions about how alleged war criminals can exploit international systems to live comfortably in exile.
Source
bskyThe hunt for justice against Syria's 'Butcher of Hama' and his European property empireprospectmagazine.co.ukKey quotes
· 3 pulledThrough each canvas, he has tried to make sense of what befell him and his family in Syria four decades ago.
How did he get away with it?
Rifaat al-Assad, an alleged war criminal, built a property empire across the continent.
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