France Issues Arrest Warrants for Assad and Top Aides Over Journalists’ Deaths in Syria

September 02, 2025 – France/Syria –

French judges have issued an arrest warrant for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of responsibility for the 2012 bombardment in Homs that killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Rémi Ochlik. The strike, which also injured other foreign reporters, targeted an informal press centre established to document atrocities committed during the brutal siege.

The warrant represents a landmark moment in the pursuit of justice for crimes against journalists, directly implicating Assad in what investigators concluded was a deliberate attack to silence independent reporting. Colvin, a celebrated correspondent for The Sunday Times, had entered Syria covertly to cover the civilian toll of the conflict. Her killing shocked the international press and quickly became emblematic of the extreme dangers faced by reporters covering Syria’s war.

This development follows years of legal efforts by Colvin’s family and rights organisations to hold Assad accountable. While Assad remains outside France’s reach, the warrant underscores the principle that even former heads of state can face prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

For press freedom advocates, the move sends a powerful signal: attacks on journalists will not be forgotten, even after more than a decade. The case also highlights the increasing use of universal jurisdiction to pursue justice for victims of conflict when domestic avenues are blocked.

Reference –

https://www.mediacatalyst.in/assad-and-aides-are-wanted-in-france-for-deadly-strike-on-journalists/

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/world/middleeast/assad-warrant-marie-colvin.html