A Syrian man, Rafiq al Q, accused of torturing people during Syria's civil war, denied the charges at his trial in The Hague, claiming a conspiracy against him. Prosecutors allege he committed crimes against humanity, including torture and sexual violence. Al Q, who sought asylum in the Netherlands in 2021, refuted claims of supporting Bashar al-Assad and attempted to present evidence during the trial. The Netherlands has previously prosecuted Syrians for war crimes, and hearings will continue for two weeks.