logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
32m 51s

S2E5: Destination Europe

75 Podcasts
About this episode

Brigadier General Khaled al-Halabi managed to escape Syria and make it to Turkey in the Spring of 2013. But where did he go next? Fritz traces Halabi’s journey from Turkey to Europe - a journey that seems to have been relatively smooth compared to hundreds of thousands of other Syrians’, displaced by the war in Syria. Fritz speaks to some of those who were forced to flee, like Kenan Khadaj and Diana Khayyata, about their journeys to Europe. And as Halabi enters Europe, he is unaware that a nest of legal investigators is stirring, ready to address the crimes against humanity that are being committed in Syria. 

The Syria Trials is a 75 Podcast production. This episode is hosted by Fritz Streiff, and produced by Sasha Edye-Lindner, with research and editorial support from Mais Katt. It was mixed by Tobias Withers.

Support for our podcast comes from German Federal Foreign Office funds that are provided by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen IFA’s Zivik Funding Programme.

If you’d like to find out more about our podcast, head to our website https://75podcasts.org/ Here you'll find an archive of all our episodes with their transcripts, as well as our other productions.

Useful links:

CIJA - https://cijaonline.org/

OSJI - https://www.justiceinitiative.org/

Eric Emeraux's book - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/hunting-monsters-an-officer-on-the-trail-of-the-world-s-worst-war-criminals-eric-emeraux/7509003

Up next
Dec 2023
S2E11: A conversation with Abdallah and Steve Kostas
In this, the final episode of the season, Fritz catches up with two of the key legal investigators in the Halabi case - Abdallah and Steve Kostas, who have both been an integral part of this season. We find out where the Halabi case currently stands and what we can expect to happ ... Show More
18m 35s
Dec 2023
S2E10: Better Late than Never
Khaled al-Halabi might not be behind bars or on trial - but there have been huge developments in the justice for Syria space. Fritz heads back to the city where it all started, Raqqa, which has suffered hugely also since Halabi escaped. He finds out about the cases concerning the ... Show More
34m 48s
Dec 2023
S2E9: The Wheels of Justice
The wheels of justice can turn incredibly slowly. And when a case like Halabi's is slapped with so many setbacks, it can be difficult not to lose hope and faith in the justice process. But even as the Halabi case stalled, other trials were starting in Europe - including one again ... Show More
33m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
Hunting Syria's War Criminals
Imagine walking down a street in a European capital and meeting your torturer. For many Syrian refugees fleeing war and human rights abuses, Europe was meant to be a sanctuary. So it was a shock when people began bumping into their torturers out shopping or in a cafe. In fact man ... Show More
29m 15s
Nov 2022
NEW podcast - The Syria Trials
If you've enjoyed listening to Branch 251, you're in luck! 75 Podcasts has a new podcast. It's called The Syria Trials. Here is Fritz Streiff to tell you all about it.Support for our podcast comes from German Federal Foreign Office funds that are provided by the Institut für Ausl ... Show More
1m 45s
Jun 2019
85 – A Syrian Refugee Cures Homesickness With Hummus
In 2018, reporter Shane Bauer traveled to Syria to unpack America’s involvement in its bitter conflict. Hear an excerpt of a special Mother Jones Podcast series following in his footsteps. Then you’ll meet a Syrian refugee chef who couldn’t return to his homeland—but found a way ... Show More
15m 55s
Sep 2020
A Favor For A Friend
Fritz and court reporter Hannah dissect the special testimony of leading Syrian opposition figure Riad Seif, the man who vouched for Anwar R. to get asylum in Germany. The country that is now prosecuting him for crimes against humanity. Also, two survivors of Branch 251 who are c ... Show More
20m 35s
Nov 2024
The perils of standing up to Iran from Europe
From Turkey to France and the UK, Iranians who've challenged the regime at home have often sought safety in Europe. But how safe are these dissidents, really? This week we speak to Fariba Nawa, host of 'Lethal Dissent', a fascinating new podcast series that investigates Iran's ef ... Show More
48m 30s
Sep 2024
Trouble up North: Syria and Turkey look to normalise ties
This week on The New Arab Voice podcast, we look at the potential for a normalisation deal between Syria and Turkey. In recent years, Syria has been welcomed back into the regional fold, and yet Damascus has still not normalised with Ankara, and Turkish troops remain on Syrian so ... Show More
29 m
Mar 2019
Syria
This episode brings us to one of the most complicated conflicts raging in the Middle East. Thomas and Aimen both know the country well and walk us through the actors and their motives. They’ll also explain how Syria became such a killing field as a result of the Arab Spring and h ... Show More
1h 6m
Jun 2024
S9E13: Feels Like Home
One day in June of 2014, at the height of the Syrian civil war, Rami made a daring escape from an ISIS militia. But that meant he had to leave his home country, maybe forever. His journey from that moment — into Turkey, then to California, and then to Rhode Island — was something ... Show More
36m 46s