Syrian Witnesses Speak

Last week in court was special: Syrian survivors spoke as witnesses for the first time. One of them, Feras Fayyad tells us about his experience testifying in court and opening up about being sexually violated at Branch 251. We talk to two experts who tell us more about sexual violence in international cases and how the Syrian regime has used it as a weapon of war against its own people. Also on the episode: Anwar al Bunni's moment in court that he has been waiting for for so long. He testified as an expert witness and had a lot to say to the judges.Follow us on Twitter and @KaramShoumali and @Fritz_Streiff.Some additional sources on this episode and the trial here:More on our guest Feras Fayyad:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5926047/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-07/oscars-syria-feras-fayyad-the-caveOur guest Alexandra Lily Kather shared these resources with us for further reading:http://www.lse.ac.uk/women-peace-security/assets/documents/2018/LSE-WPS-WILPF-Syria-SGBV.pdfhttps://tinyurl.com/sgys6uyThe announcement we mentioned on the podcast: https://www.ecchr.eu/nc/en/press-release/press-conference-germanys-role-in-the-investigation-and-prosecution-of-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-in-syria/Our guest Anne Bernard of the New York Times shared these articles with us for further reading:https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/11/world/middleeast/syria-torture-prisons.htmlIn Arabic: https://www.nytimes.com/ar/2019/07/22/world/middleeast/syria-torture-prisons.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/reader-center/insider-syria-prisons.htmlhttps://www.channel4.com/news/syrias-disappeared-new-evidence-that-military-leaders-knew-of-torturehttps://tinyurl.com/y2jftcocMore on the 'Cesar' Photos:https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/caesar-photos-document-systematic-torture/https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/16/syria-stories-behind-photos-killed-detaineesLogo design by laurenshebly.nl -- Photo by James Lawler Duggan/AFP/Getty Images.