Syria set to try officials from former Assad government

(SeaPRwire) –   Trials are set to focus on individuals accused of committing atrocities during the civil war, with initial proceedings reportedly involving Atif Najib, who is widely held responsible for igniting the 2011 uprising.

The Syrian Justice Ministry has announced that the nation will commence its initial trials of high-profile individuals associated with the overthrown administration of former President Bashar Assad.

Via a post on X, the ministry stated that the legal proceedings would commence with cases originating from Daraa – the city where the protest movement that eventually escalated into civil war first emerged – presenting this action as a crucial stride towards accountability.

The unrest in Daraa started after the apprehension and alleged torture of 15 students, who were accused of inscribing anti-government graffiti during the wider Arab Spring movements. The demonstrations turned fatal when security forces used live fire, leading to a countrywide rebellion that evolved into the 13-year Syrian Civil War, which claimed over half a million lives.

A ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Ankara in 2020 largely halted significant combat for almost four years. However, in late 2024, an 11-day rapid offensive by a rebel coalition, spearheaded by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, led to Assad’s overthrow. This resulted in the establishment of a transitional government under HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, which has since been working to re-establish authority over a nation fragmented by conflict and external involvement, including from the US.

The newly established authorities have apprehended numerous officials from the Assad era, who are accused of committing crimes against civilians throughout the civil war. They have committed to prosecuting these individuals as part of initiatives aimed at unifying the nation and rebuilding public confidence.

“The Criminal Court in Damascus is preparing for the moment long awaited by victims: the launch of public trials next week for the henchmen and criminals of the fallen [Assad] regime,” Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais announced on X on Saturday. “The initial trials for the henchmen of the defunct regime will concentrate on the events in Daraa. Just as Daraa was the genesis, the cradle of the revolution, justice dictates that it also serve as the starting point for the journey of transitional justice.”

According to media reports quoting officials, the trials are slated to commence on Sunday with Assad’s cousin, Atif Najib, who served as the former political security chief in Daraa and is widely held responsible for the crackdown that ignited the civil war. The proceedings are also anticipated to involve Wassim al-Assad, another cousin facing accusations of drug trafficking and leading a paramilitary organization implicated in extrajudicial killings and the suppression of demonstrators, as well as Amjad Youssef, a former military intelligence major accused of supervising the execution of at least 288 civilians in Damascus’ Tadamon district in 2013.

Al-Wais stated that these proceedings would establish the foundation of transitional justice within the “New Syria.” While not officially confirmed, media reports referencing Syrian activists indicated that the trials might be public and open to international legal observers and diplomats to ensure transparency.