Syrian security forces face Spanish court probe

A Spanish court said yesterday it would investigate a criminal complaint against the Syrian security and intelligence forces related to alleged state terrorism and disappearance of people.

The complaint was brought by a Syrian-born woman of Spanish nationality who says her brother disappeared after being arrested, and that he was tortured and executed in 2013 at a centre in Damascus under the control of the Syrian security forces.

It is the first criminal case against Syrian security forces to go before a foreign court, said her lawyer.