KURDWATCH, December 30, 2011—On December 28, 2011, the Criminal Court of First Instance in al-Hasakah acquitted Jindar ʿAbdussalam Barakat and Ahmad ʿAjil Ahmad on the charges raised against them pursuant to Articles 374 and 376 of the Syrian Criminal Code. The acquittal was made possible on the basis of witness testimony. [Further information on the case]