Dialogue Session: “Transitional Justice in Syria: Legal Potential and the Cries of Detainees”

Date and Location:

Held on July 10, 2025, in collaboration with Haqqi Justice Foundation, the Arab Council for Strategic Litigation, and the Syrian Revolution Detainees Association, under the theme “Transitional Justice in Syria and Possible Paths to Accountability.”

Participants and Attendance:

The 3-hour session hosted 34 attendees (17 women, 17 men), including:

• Human rights advocates.
• Survivors of detention.
• Representatives from civil society organizations and media outlets, such as SANA News Agency and Zaman Al-Wasl.

Key Interventions:

• Mr. Al-Kilani: Gaps in Syrian Law
  Speaker: International Legal Expert and Lawyer.
  • Syrian legislation lacks genuine accountability mechanisms for regime crimes (e.g., enforced disappearance, torture).
  • The absence of clear legal definitions for these crimes impedes judicial prosecution.
  • Transitional justice in Syria requires international pressure, support, and crime documentation with court-admissible evidence.
  • Called for systematic legal action to link violations to international law.

• Lawyer Ali Al-Zeer: Systematic Violence and Collective Suffering
  Speaker: Director of Haqqi Foundation’s Damascus Office.
  • Presented legal analysis of the Syrian regime’s violations, including torture, enforced disappearance, and sexual violence in prisons (e.g., Sednaya, Branch 215, Branch 227).
  • These acts qualify as crimes against humanity under international law.
  • Urged leveraging local and international litigation mechanisms and submitting case files to specialized courts.

• Ghana Al-Kurdi: Silenced Voices of Detainees
  Speaker: Representative of the Syrian Revolution Detainees Association.
  • Criticized societal silence regarding violations in Sednaya Prison, especially toward missing detainees.
  • Highlighted the legal and psychological neglect faced by families of the missing and survivors.
  • Demanded legal/social protection for survivors and a fair environment for reparations and search efforts.

• Nour Aweys: Launching Practical Initiatives
  Speaker: Legal Researcher and Media Officer at Haqqi Foundation.
  • Announced a memorandum of understanding between Haqqi Foundation and the Association to coordinate joint efforts.
  • Launched closed sessions for female detention survivors, including:
    • Legal support.
    • Confidential testimony documentation.
  • Emphasized protecting survivors during and after documentation processes.

Final Recommendations:

• Enhance coordination between local/international organizations to raise cases of detainees and the forcibly disappeared.
• Document evidence per precise legal standards admissible in international courts.
• Protect witnesses/victims from retaliation or stigma through safe documentation spaces.
• Ensure women’s inclusion in all transitional justice stages (as witnesses, survivors, activists).

Conclusion:

The session marked a significant step toward justice and accountability in Syria, bridging:

• Firsthand victim testimonies.
• Legal analysis of potentials and challenges.
• Practical initiatives to combat regime impunity.

While the path remains long, documentation and sustained legal/political pressure may open doors to accountability.