Sweden tries militant over Jordanian pilot burned to death by Daesh

04-06-2025

'Osama Krayem has, together and in agreement with other perpetrators belonging to Daesh, killed Maaz Al-Kassasbeh,' prosecutor Reena Devgun told the courtIn the 22-minute video of the killing, the victim is seen walking past several masked Daesh fighters, including Krayem, according to prosecutorsSTOCKHOLM: A convicted Swedish militant went on trial in Stockholm on Wednesday accused of war crimes for his role in the 2014 killing of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive in Syria.The case is considered unique as the other militants involved in the brutal killing, which sparked international outrage at the time, are presumed dead, Swedish prosecutor Henrik Olin told AFP.Osama Krayem, a 32-year-old Swede, is already serving long prison sentences for his role in the Paris and Brussels attacks in 2015 and 2016.He now faces charges of 'serious war crimes and terrorist crimes' for his alleged participation in the killing of the Jordanian pilot.On December 24, 2014, an aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force crashed in Syria.The pilot was captured the same day by fighters from the Daesh group near the central city of Raqqa and he was burned alive in a cage sometime before February 3, 2015, when a video of the gruesome killing was published, according to the prosecution.The slickly-produced propaganda video was one of the first such videos released by Daesh.The killing shocked Jordan, which was participating in the US-led coalition's strikes against Daesh positions in Syria.'Osama Krayem has, together and in agreement with other perpetrators belonging to Daesh, killed Maaz Al-Kassasbeh,' prosecutor Reena Devgun told the court on Wednesday.'Osama Krayem, in uniform and armed, guarded and led the victim Maaz Al-Kassasbeh to a metal cage, where the latter was then locked up. One of the co-perpetrators then set fire to Maaz Al-Kassasbeh, who had no possibility to defend himself or call for help,' Devgun said.Krayem, wearing a dark blue shirt and with a thick beard and long, loose dark hair, had his back to the handful of journalists and spectators who followed Wednesday's proceedings behind a glass wall in the high security courtroom in Stockholm's district court.He appeared calm as the prosecution laid out the charges, which could result in a life sentence if Krayem is convicted.In the 22-minute video of the killing, the victim is seen walking past several masked Daesh fighters, including Krayem, according to prosecutors.The pilot is then seen being locked in the cage and praying as he is set on fire.Prosecutors have been unable to determine the exact date of the murder but the investigation has identified the location.The pilot's father, Safi Al-Kassasbeh, told AFP on Wednesday the family hoped Krayem would 'receive the harshest penalty according to the magnitude of the crime.''This is what we expect from a respected and fair law,' he said.It was thanks to a scar on the suspect's eyebrow, visible in the video and spotted by Belgian police, that Krayem was identified and the investigation was opened, Devgun said when the charges were announced last week.Other evidence in the case includes conversations on social media, including one where Krayem asks a person if he has seen a new video 'where a man gets fried,' according to the investigation, a copy of which has been viewed by AFP.'I'm in the video,' Krayem said, pointing out the moment when the camera zooms in on his face.The other person replies: 'Hahaha, yes, I saw the eyebrow.'The defendant's lawyer, Petra Eklund, told AFP before the start of the trial that her client admitted to being present at the scene but disputed the prosecution's version.'He denies the acts for which he is prosecuted,' she said.'He acknowledges having been present at that place during the event, but claims not to have acted in the manner described by the prosecutors in the account of the facts,' she added.Krayem, who is from Malmo in southern Sweden, joined the Daesh group in Syria in 2014 before returning to Europe in September 2015.He was arrested in Belgium in April 2016.In June 2022, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in France for helping plan the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed.The following year, he was given a life sentence in Belgium for participating in the March 2016 bombings at Brussels' main airport and on the metro system, in which 32 people were killed.Krayem has been temporarily handed over to Sweden for the Stockholm trial, which is scheduled to last until June 26.

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Saudi Arabia signs $6.4bn investment deals with Syria to boost reconstruction

Arab News

13 hours ago

Arab News

Saudi Arabia signs $6.4bn investment deals with Syria to boost reconstruction

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has signed investment deals worth $6.4 billion with Syria, marking a significant step in the Kingdom's efforts to re-engage economically with the war-ravaged country and support its reconstruction drive. The agreements, spanning sectors such as real estate, telecommunications, and finance, were unveiled by Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih during the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum held in Damascus on July 25. The forum highlights Saudi Arabia's strong commitment to strengthening Syria's financial landscape. In April, the Kingdom joined Qatar in settling the country's $15 million debt to the World Bank. 'During this forum, we will witness the signing of 47 agreements and memoranda of understanding with a total value approaching SR24 billion ($6.4 billion), said Al-Falih. The deals include $1.07 billion in the telecommunications sector, with Syria's Ministry of Communications and several Saudi telecom companies aiming to deepen bilateral ties. Companies involved in the plans include Saudi Telecom Co., GO Telecom, digital security firm Elm, cybersecurity company Cipher, and education technology firm Classera. In the real estate and infrastructure sectors, deals worth $2.93 billion were announced, including the construction of three new Saudi-financed cement plants to support Syria's reconstruction efforts. The two nations also agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture. 'In the agricultural sector, we look forward to collaborating in Syria to develop high-quality joint projects, including model farms and processing industries,' said Al-Falih. In finance, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Damascus Securities Exchange to boost cooperation in the fintech sector. Al-Falih also announced the formation of a Saudi-Syrian Business Council, which is expected to further strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries. Speaking at a separate panel discussion during the forum, Al-Falih said Syria is evolving into a more investment-friendly destination, despite ongoing challenges. 'Syria is leaping forward as an investment-attractive country despite all challenges. Since the beginning of its new era, we have witnessed a genuine desire to provide investment opportunities for Saudi businessmen,' he added.

Lost cause? Let the people of Lebanon have their say

Arab News

14 hours ago

Arab News

Lost cause? Let the people of Lebanon have their say

There is a strange situation in Lebanon. For decades, politicians and their staff have been permanently present on the media scene — commenting, contesting, making their clan's voice heard, and, in short, occupying space. This was true whether in opposition or government. Today, there is a period of quasi-silence. This silence indicates a loss of direction and an inability to read what is coming next regionally. There is another serious and pressing element that is changing the equation: the erosion of security and the impact of the difficult situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. While the new leadership in Syria faces a lot of challenges and risks, the one that presents the biggest danger for Lebanon is not the military clashes between communities, but the lack of order and security, a threat that can easily spread. Syria's security forces are unprepared to fight crime due to corruption, fragmented control, and, as stated, much bigger issues than public safety. This situation creates great instability for Lebanon, as organized crime does not stay within borders. As the new president, Joseph Aoun, came to power, most Lebanese — some politicians included — hoped he would deliver on his promises to restore sovereignty to the country. Many imagined that a negotiated outcome with Hezbollah was possible and that soon Lebanon would be back to its short-lived 'Switzerland of the Middle East' model. Close to seven months later, the optimists — not to call them naive — agree with the cynics of the first hour that this is just quixotic. There was never going to be, and never will be, a negotiated outcome with Hezbollah. We nevertheless need to put things back into perspective. Aoun came to power after Israel defeated Hezbollah using strikes that brought the Iranian proxy to a level of vulnerability never witnessed before. This extreme weakness, and the shell-shocked status of Hezbollah with the change of regime in Syria, made people believe that this was the perfect time. Is it a lost opportunity, just like what happened in the 2000s, not taking the bold step needed and losing the window to make a real change? No one knows. Perhaps, despite years of US support and financing, the Lebanese armed forces still do not represent the stick that can challenge Hezbollah. Or perhaps the answer is simply closer than people think. There is no doubt that even if negotiated, projecting strength would be a necessity. This does not exist today. Organized crime does not stay within borders Khaled Abou Zahr There is also within Lebanon an echo of what we see in Western capitals. We cannot ignore the protest posters in New York showing an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with a slogan telling people to be on the right side of history. Yet, there are, even in Lebanon, people who are puzzled about what comes next. This is why it is time to leave the decision to the people in Lebanon. The electoral system for years has been carved out by politicians to accommodate their deals. They have been, in a sense, accomplices of Hezbollah. It is time to ask the people what they want. It is time to put forward two questions to the people of Lebanon. The first is: Do you back the sovereignty of the country? And the second question: Do you prefer a centralized political system or a federation? There also should be a two-level count — one for the entire nation and one for each community. It is now important to see what each community needs and wants for the future. There is no doubt that, for example, today the Sunni community — to which I belong — expects the change of regime in Syria from a pro-Iran to a Sunni one that is representative of the majority of the Syrian population to work to their advantage in the long term. In my opinion, Lebanon's specificity will clash with the uniformity of the Syrian model. This was true yesterday and will still be true tomorrow. The main objective should be to initiate a dialogue Khaled Abou Zahr Yet, it is this entrenched thinking that needs to be destroyed. This historical clan setup has partially been responsible for the ills of the country. Whether Hezbollah or the groups before it, it is the same cycle. I would like to see this setup and political system obliterated. I believe that federalism will bring stability to Lebanon. Yet, perhaps I am a tiny minority within the country or my community. This is why reverting to the people is important. It is also important to have a view of what each community needs and wants. This should be stated by the people and not the clan leaders who have perpetuated the cycles generation after generation. If we believe in the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, we cannot be influenced by how the geopolitical shifts affect our community in the balance of power. It is contradictory. We need a system that gives each citizen within each community the capacity to lead a stable life. What would be the outcome of such referendums? How to manage fragmented results where a community or a group of communities vote differently? What happens if people vote against the state? Does this mean that all communities can arm themselves again? What if they vote for sovereignty — who will execute the will of the people? There are many unanswered questions. Yet the main objective should be to initiate a dialogue, or perhaps accept that, for now, Lebanon is still a lost cause. Either way, the people will know. And those who wish to be Don Quixote can still carry on.

Explosion in Syria's Idlib Kills Civilians, Al Ekhbariah TV Reports

Asharq Al-Awsat

15 hours ago

Asharq Al-Awsat

Explosion in Syria's Idlib Kills Civilians, Al Ekhbariah TV Reports

An explosion rocked the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on Thursday, state-run Al Ekhbariya TV reported, and an unspecified number of people were killed or injured, the local emergency operations department said. The cause of the blast was not immediately known, the TV report said.