UN expert alarmed by continued torture in Syria despite world court order

A UN expert has expressed grave concern over reports of widespread torture in Syria, despite a direct order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

UN Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards says Syria has not shown any signs of addressing the issue more than six months after the ICJ’s directive. 

The court had instructed Syria to take urgent measures to prevent torture and ensure accountability for such acts. 

Edwards says torture remains prevalent in Syrian detention centers, severely affecting the physical and psychological well-being of thousands. 

The ICJ’s provisional measures, prompted by allegations from Canada and the Netherlands, are pending full consideration.

These allegations include inhumane treatment, unsanitary conditions in detention facilities, and the use of chemical weapons, resulting in deaths and severe suffering.