A Syrian asylum seeker once accused of participating in ISIS-led executions has walked away from a Swedish courtroom not only cleared of all charges but now compensated to the tune of over €71,000 for his time behind bars.
The man, in his 50s and living in southern Sweden, was arrested and held for more than a year over allegations linking him to gruesome war crimes committed in 2015 near Palmyra, Syria. Witnesses claimed he was involved in the execution of two unarmed men under ISIS’s banner and accused him of taking part in the public desecration of one of the bodies.
Despite those damning testimonies, the Blekinge District Court wasn’t convinced. With no hard evidence to support the claims and relying largely on oral accounts, the court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He was acquitted in May last year.
Now, the Swedish government is footing the bill for the mistake. According to SVT, the man has been awarded 787,000 Swedish kronor (roughly €71,200) — 465,000 for the suffering endured during pre-trial detention and another 322,000 for business losses he suffered while his company sat idle.
The individual reportedly arrived in Sweden in 2015 — the same year the alleged crimes took place — and sought asylum shortly after entering the country.
While the case stirred controversy due to its ties to ISIS and the brutality of the accusations, the court’s decision highlights Sweden’s firm stance on due process: if the proof doesn’t stick, the accused walks free — and may even walk away richer.
