French Court Removes Bashar Assad Immunity for Chemical Attacks

France's highest court, the Cour de Cassation, annulled the arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad on the grounds that a sitting head of state enjoys legal immunity; however, since Assad was deposed in December 2024, new detention warrants can now be issued against him. The court's decision paves the way for potential prosecution of Assad in absentia for alleged war crimes and chemical attacks in Ghouta and Douma, marking a significant legal precedent for holding current or former heads of state accountable. Human rights activists and legal experts emphasize that this ruling could open the door for other countries to prosecute leaders implicated in atrocities, reshaping international law and justice for victims. Assad, who denies involvement and has not appointed a defense lawyer, remains in exile in Russia, while Syrian activists and European prosecutors have gathered substantial evidence against him. The case highlights the ongoing struggle for accountability over Syria's brutal civil war, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees. This landmark ruling is seen by advocates as a major victory for victims and could encourage further legal actions against regime figures previously protected by immunity.