French court says Assad arrest warrant is invalid

France’s top court on July 25th annulled a French arrest warrant against Syria’s former leader, Bashar al-Assad, which was issued before his fall from power, over lethal chemical attacks in 2013, according to Al-Monitor via AFP.

The Court of Cassation said that presidential immunity has no exceptions. However, Christophe Soulard, the court’s presiding judge, said that because Assad is no longer Syria’s leader he could be the target of new arrest warrants and therefore, the investigation of his case can proceed.

The arrest warrant against the ex-leader was issued in November 2023 by French authorities, due to Assad’s alleged involvement in a sarin gas attack’s chain of command.

Al-Monitor via AFP