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Damascus begins public trials for individuals involved in Sweida sectarian violence

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Syria has begun public trials for individuals accused of involvement in sectarian violence in Sweida last year.
  • Judicial proceedings have been transferred to the Military Criminal Court in Damascus, with the first public hearing held on Wednesday.
  • The trials aim to establish facts and hold accountable those proven responsible for violations, regardless of their affiliation.

Syria has initiated public trials for individuals implicated in the sectarian violence that erupted in the Sweida province last year, marking a transition from investigation to judicial accountability. Ammar Ezzedin, spokesperson for the National Investigation Committee into the Sweida events, confirmed that the Military Public Prosecution has referred multiple suspects to an investigating judge.

The cases have now been transferred to the Military Criminal Court in Damascus. The violence in July 2025 was described as among the worst outbreaks of sectarian conflict since Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed power following the fall of the Assad regime in 2024. Official Syrian government figures indicate 1760 killings, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 2,000 deaths, including 789 Druze civilians.

The referral of these cases to the competent judiciary and the commencement of public trials represent the transition from fact-finding to judicial accountability.

— Ammar EzzedinSpokesperson for the National Investigation Committee into the Sweida events, on the significance of the trials.

The first public hearing took place on Wednesday, with the next scheduled for July 13. Hatem Al Naasan, who leads Syria’s national committee investigating the events, stated that the proceedings are designed to "establish the facts and hold accountable anyone proven responsible for any violations ... regardless of their position or the side to which the acts are attributed."

A United Nations investigation in March corroborated that Syrian government forces, along with Bedouin militias and individuals linked to the Islamic State, attacked Druze communities. This resulted in the deaths of 1707 people across all factions and displaced up to 155,000 people. A UN official recently warned that efforts to stabilize southern Syria and repair divisions have stalled nearly a year after the deadly violence.

The proceedings aim to 'establish the facts and hold accountable anyone proven responsible for any violations ... regardless of their position or the side to which the acts are attributed.'

— Hatem Al NaasanLeader of Syria’s national committee investigating the events in Sweida.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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