The higher regional court sentenced Yard a to 4.5 years in prison, saying he had arrested at least 30 anti government protesters at the start of the conflict in 2000 and 11 on sent them to an intelligence facility where he knew detainees were tortured.

They lack the was seen.

Mokdad was a plaintiff and witness in the trial on I know that Silla is Bashar.

This is the first step.

The road to justice is long and one of the goals is to bring Bashar al Assad on is in a circle before a court.

This is a relief, but it's also not the end.

It's only the beginning, no there Amber.

The Assad government denies it tortures prisoners, but the verdict gives hope to the 800,000 Syrians in Germany who say they were tortured in government facilities.

Prosecutors secure the trial under Germany's universal jurisdiction laws, which allows courts to prosecute crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.

The same court will continue hearings in another case of a former intelligence officer charged with 58 murders in a Damascus prison where prosecutors say at least 4000 opposition activists were tortured in 2000 and 11 on 2000 and 12.