France's highest court is ruling on whether it can strip Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian leader now in exile in Russia, of his immunity as a head of state. This decision could lead to a trial in absentia for chemical weapons attacks in Ghouta in 2013 and Douma in 2018. Human rights activists say it could set a precedent for prosecuting other leaders linked to atrocities. The evidence against Assad was collected by Syrian civil society groups and European prosecutors. The ruling could also reveal classified evidence if Assad is tried in absentia or extradited by Russia, and fuel further cases against him and regime officials.
