Human Rights Watch: Syria is running a network of torture centers

According to Human Rights Watch the Syrian regime is running at least 27 detention centers where torture is routinely carried out.

According to reports from Reuters, Hindustan Times and The Guardian Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated in its report this Thursday that those detained in these "detention" centers are tortured by a variety of means, including being beaten with batons and cables, burned with acid as well as being subjected to sexual assaults. HRW quoted one man as saying that he was tortured via electric shocks to the genitals, and stated they tortured him "like this three times over three days." HRW has said that it has on record 20 different torture methods being used by regime forces, and state these means "clearly point to a state policy of torture and ill-treatment and therefore constitute a crime against humanity." These centers have been used by the Assad regime since it began its brutal crackdown against the democratic insurrection which began in the country in March of 2011. Following the United Nations Chief of Human Rights Navi Pillay yesterday calling for the Syrian conflict to be referred to the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch has followed suit, adding that sanctions against officials who are carrying out these abuses should be implemented, stating that "the individuals who carried out or ordered crimes against humanity bear individual criminal responsibility under international law, as do those in a position of command whose subordinates committed crimes that they were aware of or should have been aware of and failed to prevent or punish." The emergencies researcher at HRW Ole Solvang criticized Russian policy towards Syria stating that it "should not be holding its protective hand over the people who are responsible for this."