An ex-Syrian general and a former senior police officer went on trial in Vienna on Monday, accused of ordering or allowing torture of protestors during the early years of Syria’s civil war.

Austrian courts are hearing the case because the defendants live in Vienna and the law allows jurisdiction over certain crimes committed abroad.

Prosecutors say the alleged abuses took place in Raqqa between 2011 and 2013 under the former Assad regime.

The accused include Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Halabi, who has been in pre-trial detention since 2024, and Lt. Col. Musab Abu Rukbah, Euro News has reported.

Both men fled Syria, later sought asylum in Austria in 2015, and have lived there since.