Branch 251

In this episode, Fritz and Karam speak to two international mental health experts, Dr. Vedrana Mladina and Diana Rayes. They comment on the accounts of survivors we interviewed in the previous episode. And we ask them how exposure to war and torture affects survivors' lives, and what their needs are after torture to lead a healthy life. Dr. Vedrana Mladina https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vedrana-ml...

In this episode, Fritz and Karam speak to two survivors of Branch 251. They share with us the painful details of their detention, memories and how this impacts their lives now. And what they would ask the accused if they got the chance. Follow us on Twitter and @KaramShoumali and @Fritz_Streiff . Inside Syria's Secret Torture Prisons: https://nyti.ms/2Bk5h1J In German: Das Erste's report on Nuran...

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 th...

Eyad A. is the second defendant in the trial. The smaller fish. The less interesting accused. Or is he? Karam and Fritz go on a journey to find answers to this question. We talked to friends, family, a colleague of his from Branch 251, and a court reporter to find out more. And we discovered some pretty interesting insights and contradictions in the various versions of events. When did Eyad A...

In this week’s episode, Fritz and Karam speak to Der Spiegel’s Christoph Reuter about Anwar R. Christoph Reuter interviewed him in 2013 over two days and tells us "how he ticks". And in court this week, Eyad A.’s police statement from August 2018 was admitted as evidence while his lawyers tried to dismiss it as inadmissible. Why? Tune in and find out. Subscribe to keep every episode coming to...

This week in court, the main accused Anwar R. reacted to the accusations against him with a statement that his lawyers read to the court. His defense in short: there was no torture when I was in charge, later others did it, I tried to help but couldn't do more, and then I fled the country. How did this go down in court and how did the public gallery react to his statement? Listen to Karam and Frit...

How did the Branch 251 trial actually come about?  Your hosts Karam and Fritz talked to someone who played an important role in transforming the terrible stories of these crimes into legal cases: Anwar Al Bunni. He has been instrumental in building the case and kick-starting this first criminal trial against Syrian officials.  He was also imprisoned himself simply because he was doing hi...

This episode takes you into Branch 251. Or Al Khatib Branch, as it is known among survivors. Your hosts Karam and Fritz talked to them. Based on their accounts, this is how a detainee's journey looks like from arrest and arrival at the Branch, to the cells and interrogation rooms -- or better: torture chambers. A word of warning: better not listen with kids or just before going to bed. This will l...

On this first episode of Branch 251, your hosts Fritz and Karam introduce the listeners to the trial that started in Koblenz, Germany, on 23 April 2020. They revisit the question of why this trial is taking place in Germany, and not at the International Criminal Court, for example. And they introduce the accusations against the two defendants, Anwar R and Eyad A. Tune in, to also hear from someone...

This is an introduction to Branch 251, a podcast about the world’s first criminal trial dealing with accusations of crimes against humanity against members of Bashar al Assad’s Syrian military. Find out what this podcast is all about and tune in on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  And subscribe to keep every episode coming to you automatically every week.&n...