Victims of the conflict in Syria have no access to justice. And a Dutch journalist from NRC is asking me questions about who financed cases to obtain reparations for Syrian victims.
Why does the journalist focus is on who financed the efforts to help the victims while she ignores the substance of the cases presented? Judges from the US and the UK received evidence that Qatar and its banks were financing terrorist organizations.
Since 2011, more than 600.000 persons were killed either by the Assad regime, supported by Russia, or by different militias supported by the US, Europe, and Qatar, including Al Nusra, a group created by Al Qaeda, led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The International Criminal Court has no authority to investigate those crimes because Syria never ratified the Rome Statute.Â
In 2017, we had the idea to obtain civil reparations to the victims in national courts. A lawyer in Geneva was able to create a litigation fund to finance the complex investigations and trials. The financers believed that there is a business in making war, and they wanted to create economic incentives to make justice and peace. But, they requested to keep a strict anonymity to protect their business from Qatar retaliation.Â
We obtained evidence showing that Doha Bank, a bank controlled by the Qatar royal family with a branch in London, was used to transfer money to the group. We also found that an Israeli military court convicted two Palestinians for transferring money from Qatar to organizations connected with Hamas.
Cases demanding reparations for victims were initiated in London and New York courts.
In the meantime, I contacted Qatar, suggesting it to create a special fund not just for the Al Nusra victims, but rather for all the Syrian victims. Instead to deny responsibility in court, embrace all the victims, including those affected by the Assad regime.Â
After years of a difficult relationship, I was hired by Qatar as a mediator to facilitate an agreement with the Al Nusra victims. One year later, the mediation collapsed, and there was no agreement. The main reason, Qatar wanted to know the identity of those who financed the litigation fund.
Now, an NRC journalist is sending me questions about who owns the litigation fund.
I have a legal duty to deny that information, but the question is: Is the journalist choosing the wrong approach, or is helping Qatar?Â
This is my public answer to the journalist.
I hope she presents the suffering of the victims properly. I hope she can explain that the lack of justice in this case helped Al Nusra to take power in Syria. Now, Al-Jolani, using a new name, is attacking Alawites, Armenians, and other Muslim communities.
If she wants to describe what is happening to the Syrian victims today, I will be happy to assist her.Â
Questions by the journalist:
• When and why did you initiate these legal proceedings?
• Who is the financier supporting these lawsuits?
• Is it correct that you were involved in payments made to the Dutch-Syrian witness in the case, Majed Alsaleh? We have seen bank statements showing that he is being paid. According to our information, these payments are made on your behalf. Why is Majed being paid for the lawsuit?
• And is it true, as was mentioned during the London court proceedings, that you accepted a mandate to negotiate a settlement with Qatar in exchange for a success fee of $6 million?