Detained in France since January 2020

The Case of Political Scientist Majdi Nema Before French Courts

A Syrian-Turkish researcher lawfully admitted to France on a scientific visa at Aix-Marseille University (IREMAM). Irrevocably cleared by the French Court of Cassation of all abduction and torture allegations, he remains held despite the collapse of the Assad regime and a formal extradition request by Syrian judicial authorities.

Review Legal Proceedings & Supreme Court Ruling Download Defense Brief (PDF)

Majdi Mustafa Nema (b. 1988) — Political Science Researcher

Core Facts & Substantive Legal Realities

Final Ruling (Feb 2024)

Total Clearance: "Douma Four"

The French Court of Cassation dismissed all charges related to the disappearance of Razan Zaitouneh and torture, confirming his departure from Ghouta 7 months prior to the event.

Read Supreme Court Ruling →

Sovereignty & Jurisdiction

Nullified Universal Jurisdiction

Universal jurisdiction was purely subsidiary to the inability to seek justice under Assad. Syria has now officially demanded his return to face domestic proceedings.

Extradition Note Details →

Human Rights Abuses

Police Brutality & Docket Flooding

Medical photographs prove severe beatings upon arrest, 10 months of total family isolation, and the deliberate addition of irrelevant files (e.g., COVID-19) to extend detention.

View Documented Evidence →

Civilian & Academic Record

Former Detainee & Scholar

Resigned from his spokesperson post in 2017, graduated second in his class in International Relations in Istanbul, completed an Erasmus fellowship, and directed an independent think tank.

Full Bio & Credentials →

Defense Statement Before the Paris Assize Court

"Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship in December 2024, continuing a trial in Paris before a lay jury of French citizens unfamiliar with the nuances of the Syrian conflict usurps the sovereign right of the Syrian people and courts to realize domestic transitional justice."

— Raphaël Kempf & Romain Ruiz, Defense Attorneys

Legal Documentation & Press Kit

We provide international journalists, researchers, and human rights bodies with full copies of Court of Cassation decisions, defense briefs, and investigative records.

International Press Coverage Official Family Committee (Facebook)