Syria’s Dilemma: Amnesty or transitional Justice?

Hassan Soufan, head of Syria’s High Committee for Civil Peace, stated that Fadi Saqr is under government protection and has provided intelligence to dismantle former Assad regime strongholds. He emphasized that Saqr is not alone—others have also aided in countering aggression since the regime’s fall.

Soufan added that Syria’s government cannot prosecute every former regime fighter and will focus solely on high-ranking criminals to preserve civil peace. Activists interpreted his remarks as a retreat from transitional justice, which he denied.

Fadi Saqr, ex-commander of the National Defense Forces in Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, now faces dual backlash: former regime loyalists brand him a traitor for collaborating with the new government, while victims’ families demand accountability for his role in the neighborhood’s massacres.

The press conference failed to satisfy relatives of the hundreds of thousands killed under Assad, with some even calling for personal vengeance—a move recently condemned by a fatwa from Syria’s Islamic Ruling Council.

Isolated voices, amplified by anonymous accounts, urged rebellion against the new government. Meanwhile, prominent activists like Hadi Al-Abdallah continue demanding the exclusion and trial of ex-regime figures, including Saqr and Socrates Al-Rihani.

Zuheir Salem, spokesperson for Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, criticized the status quo: "We remain the weakest link—under the old regime and the new one."

In a June 11 interview with Al Jazeera, Syrian Information Minister Hamza Al-Mustafa called Saqr a "problematic figure" for the government but insisted released officers had "committed no crimes." He framed civil peace and transitional justice as parallel tracks, promising war crime trials soon.

Transitional justice now poses a challenge as critical as national reunification, security, and economic recovery. Notably, Syria’s government has yet to publicly try a single ex-regime member. The Civil Peace Committee, established by presidential decree on March 10 after coastal unrest, aims to foster "national unity." Its May 10 press conference addressed outrage over Fadi Saqr’s alleged role in freeing ex-regime prisoners.

what are your thoughts? transitional justice first or civile peace?

Moumin sawady