Fact Check: "Doctor lived in Germany for ten years before arrest in 2020"
What We Know
The claim states that a doctor lived in Germany for ten years before his arrest in 2020. The individual in question is Alaa Mousa, a Syrian doctor who was sentenced to life in prison by a German court for crimes against humanity and war crimes. According to reports, Mousa arrived in Germany in 2015, blending in with Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria, and began working as an orthopedic surgeon in the German healthcare system (Washington Post, New York Times). He was arrested in 2020 after former victims recognized him from a documentary about Syrian officials who had escaped accountability by moving to Europe.
Analysis
The claim that the doctor lived in Germany for ten years before his arrest is false. Alaa Mousa moved to Germany in 2015 and was arrested in 2020, which means he lived in Germany for approximately five years, not ten. Reports confirm that he was arrested on June 19, 2020, and subsequently faced charges related to his actions in Syria during the early 2010s (ABC News, DW).
The sources used for this analysis are credible and well-established news organizations, including the Washington Post, New York Times, and ABC News, which provide detailed accounts of the events surrounding Mousa's life and arrest. These sources have a reputation for thorough reporting and fact-checking, which adds to their reliability.
Conclusion
The verdict for the claim "Doctor lived in Germany for ten years before arrest in 2020" is False. Alaa Mousa lived in Germany for only about five years before his arrest, not ten.
