Paris, 8-17-2022 (AFP) - The French judiciary is studying photos and video clips showing abuses attributed to the Syrian regime in the Tadamon neighborhood in Damascus in 2013, sent to it by the French Foreign Ministry, according to what the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecution confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.

And the French Foreign Ministry announced in a press conference on Friday that it had received "a large number of documents on possible crimes that the Syrian regime forces may have committed."

She explained, "These documents, which include a large number of photos and video clips, show atrocities committed by forces loyal to the regime during the massacre in the Tadamon neighborhood in Damascus in 2013. Dozens of civilians were killed during these attacks."

She recalled that the items were collected thanks to the "resolute work of human rights defenders", praising their "courage".

The ministry indicated that "the alleged facts may constitute the most serious international crimes, especially crimes against humanity and war crimes," over which the French judiciary has universal jurisdiction.

The documents were sent to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecution, which announced that they are studying them to determine "whether they fall within the ongoing investigations or require the opening of a separate investigation."

Several preliminary investigations are being conducted, and there are several lawsuits regarding accusations of abuses attributed to the Syrian regime or opposition factions, in the Crimes Against Humanity Division of the Paris Court.

In late April, the British newspaper The Guardian and the New Lines Institute in Washington published articles and video clips revealing the killing of dozens of people by regime forces in the Tadamon neighborhood.

A clip taken in April 2013 shows a member of the regime forces in military uniform ordering people who blindfolded and tied their hands to run, and when they start running they are shot and they fall into a hole in which other corpses are piled up. After killing 41 men, the bodies were cremated.

"After a decade of crimes committed against the Syrian people, France remains fully prepared for those responsible (for the crimes) to be held accountable for their actions before the judiciary," the French Foreign Ministry said, considering that "combating impunity is a matter of justice for the victims" and "a prerequisite for building a sustainable peace." in Syria".

Since its outbreak in 2011, the conflict in Syria has killed nearly half a million people, caused massive damage to infrastructure, and led to the displacement of millions of people inside and outside the country.