Director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Fadel Abdulghany (Syria TV)
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The director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Fadel Abdulghany, welcomed on Thursday the Attorney General’s decision to file a public lawsuit against a number of prominent figures in the ousted regime, describing the move as “positive and should have been implemented months ago.”
In exclusive statements to the Syria TV website, Abdulghany said, “Opening legal files against figures such as Atef Najib, Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, Mohammed al-Shaar, Ibrahim al-Huwaija, and others represents a necessary start on the path to accountability.” He stressed that accountability should not be limited to these individuals, but should include “a very large number of them, especially the most prominent criminals who committed crimes against humanity and war crimes, in addition to violations that fall under ordinary Syrian law, such as the murder of Syrian citizens.”
The director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed out that holding those involved accountable could begin “in accordance with applicable national laws, by filing lawsuits and placing them in pretrial detention until a special court is formed with a special law,” adding, “It is illogical to leave major criminals free without accountability while the process of forming a transitional justice body or special court is delayed.”
Restructuring the Judicial System
At the same time, Abdulghany emphasized the urgent need to “restructure the Syrian judicial system, ensure its independence, and establish a special court to prosecute crimes against humanity and war crimes.” However, he emphasized that this does not preclude “the immediate initiation of complementary and parallel judicial proceedings that combine current national law with the anticipated transitional justice process.”
Abdulghany considered these steps “a real opportunity to end impunity and strengthen the confidence of victims and their families in the seriousness of the justice process,” adding that “delays in prosecution open the way for criminals to escape or attempt to flee, which requires urgent action by the Public Prosecution and the competent judicial authorities.”
