The Syrian regime once again finds itself locked in the crosshairs of justice

This case is a reminder that the world should think twice before making amends with Assad and welcoming him into the family of nations, writes Borzou Daragahi

All it takes is one past torture victim to make a case (AFP via Getty Images)

A little-noticed legal case filed last week in The Hague is making waves in the world of international justice. The filing could have an impact on victims of torture worldwide, and advance the aim of ending impunity for the world’s most notorious state criminals – regime leaders who abuse and murder their own citizens.

Canada and the Netherlands launched cases against the regime in Syria on 12 June, accusing it of violating the United Nations convention against torture. This historic move is the first time a state has summoned another before the International Court of Justice for torture.

Legal experts have described the case as a first at the ICJ. The institution, sometimes called the World Court, was founded in 1945 as a forum for nations to adjudicate international disputes without resorting to war. Unlike the International Criminal Court, to which Syria is not a signatory, Damascus was an original member of the ICJ.