"The district court has considered the acts to be serious because they have targeted a large number of civilians and several people have died and been injured," said councilor Hampus Lilja, according to a press release from Solna District Court.
The man has been convicted of two counts of grave crimes against humanity in Yarmuk, south of the capital, Damascus, during the height of the civil war.
Protesters killed
One case concerns an attack on a peaceful demonstration on July 13, 2012, carried out by forces loyal to Syria's then-dictator Bashar al-Assad. About ten civilians were shot dead and several others were injured. According to Solna District Court, the 55-year-old participated in the shooting.
The second count relates to manning a roadblock at Yarmuk from December 2012 to July 2013, where a large number of civilians were arrested and handed over to the Syrian security services.
"Those arrested have since been tortured, subjected to other severe suffering and, in some cases, deprived of their lives," the court writes in the press release.
The 55-year-old participated by identifying, checking and arresting civilians at the roadblock.
The man must also pay compensation to relatives and victims.
Important correction
Counsel for the plaintiffs, Ingrid Elovsson, writes in a comment to TT that the process has been long and "mentally very demanding" for her clients:
"They see the verdict as an important redress for the serious suffering that they and their relatives have been subjected to. My clients also express great gratitude for the thorough work that the Swedish law enforcement authorities have carried out and for the district court's conviction."
The investigation into the man was initiated after a tip from the Swedish Migration Board. At that time, he was already a Swedish citizen.
