The detention of a «highly dangerous» asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a teenager may be a violation of his human rights, according to a UK court.
Hassan Abou Hayleh (39) attacked a 19-year-old girl after driving around at 3am looking for vulnerable, drunk women. Now the attacker is to be protected by his human rights, writes The Telegraph.
Many would argue that the rights of a 19-year-old girl should count for more, but the fall of the Roman Empire is repeating itself.
Lawyer Graham Gilbert argued that Hayleh suffered from PTSD after being tortured in a Syrian prison under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president.
The lawyer said that imprisonment would worsen the defendant’s condition.
Most normal people would surely feel some anxiety if we risked years behind bars. But is this an argument in favour of preventing serious criminals from being punished?
Having been subjected to torture is obviously bad, but is that an excuse? Where are the fact-checkers on what this Syrian is claiming?
Gilbert told Judge Robert Pawson:
– The medical report only came out on Saturday and it expressed concern about Hayleh’s PTSD.
– He has several symptoms of PTSD that will be exacerbated by a prison sentence. It will also get worse without the support of his wife and friends.
What kind of wife and friends support an abuser?
– The court must determine whether a custodial sentence would violate Article 3 and be inhumane and degrading to him.
Many might think that a man who sexually assaults young women has already rejected both his humanity and his dignity.
The judge seems to think the same.
The Syrian immigrant was found guilty of sexual assault in a trial last November.
After the verdict, Judge Pawson told him, «From the evidence I have seen, you are potentially a very dangerous man. I shudder to think what could have happened.»
Judge Pawson, however, promised to be more cautious and deferred sentencing to get a more detailed assessment of Hayleh.
– Many prisoners’ mental health deteriorates over the course of a prison sentence. But we will exercise the utmost care and caution because of Hayleh’s PTSD, which was caused by torture in a Syrian prison under the Assad regime.
