Syrians protest in Damascus, demanding accountability for Assad-era loyalists
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Dozens of Syrians protested in Damascus, demanding accountability for loyalists of the ousted Assad regime.
- Protesters called for trials against "shabiha" and former officials, referencing forced displacement and job appropriation.
- Syrian authorities stated their commitment to justice through legal channels but warned against acts of revenge, balancing street pressure with legal frameworks.
Dozens of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus overnight, demanding accountability for supporters of the former Bashar al-Assad regime. These demonstrations mark the latest in a series of protests in a country still grappling with the aftermath of a protracted civil war.
Assad's shabiha forced us to leave in green buses
Syria's new authorities have pledged to deliver justice for atrocities committed during the Assad era. They have announced arrests and initiated trials for some former military and security figures, while simultaneously cautioning against vigilantism. Video evidence, corroborated by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, appears to show protesters in the Mazzeh 86 neighborhood, with similar demonstrations occurring elsewhere in the capital.
Protesters like Abdel-Rahman al-Qadri, a 38-year-old former opposition fighter, voiced their grievances. He described how "Assad's shabiha" forced residents into displacement camps, and asserted that protesters "deserve the houses they live in, we deserve the positions and public sector jobs." His sentiment reflects a deep-seated desire for restitution and justice.
We deserve the houses they live in, we deserve the positions and public sector jobs
Similar protests have emerged in Aleppo and Idlib, targeting "regime remnants" and "shabiha." While some incidents have involved property vandalism, raising fears of vigilante justice, local authorities are navigating a complex path. Interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba reiterated the commitment to legal accountability, emphasizing that the state "categorically rejects turning the demand for accountability into an act of revenge."
the state categorically rejects turning the demand for accountability into an act of revenge
President Ahmed al-Sharaa echoed this caution, stressing the importance of not using "transitional justice as a pretext for revenge." Lawyer Aref al-Shaal highlighted the government's delicate position, caught between public demands for immediate accountability and the need to establish a legal framework that prevents chaos and ensures justice is served through established channels.
it is important not to use transitional justice as a pretext for revenge
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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