Syrian judges who defected during Assad era reinstated in anti-crime push

A presidential decree reinstating Syrian judges who defected during the regime of the ousted ex-President Bashar al-Assad was issued on Thursday, in what appears to be a new push to crack down on crime.

The Syrian Ministry of Justice has labelled the move as an important step in the path of judicial reform and provides justice for those who defected from the regime due to their support for the Syrian people.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 70 on Thursday, after a joint proposal was submitted to the presidency requesting the measure by the justice ministry and the Supreme Judicial Council.

The ministry affirmed that the step "contributes to reinforcing the principles of justice and equality and of empowering the independence of the judiciary as a fundamental pillar of the state".

"The Ministry of Justice will continue to take steps to advance the judiciary in a way that meets the aspirations of our people and serves their interests, focussing on developing judicial work mechanisms and providing a fair legal environment that guarantees everyone’s rights."

The ministry plans to monitor the decree’s implementation and continue working to develop Syria’s judicial system, including by updating judicial work mechanisms and improving the court environment, in accordance with legal requirements that safeguard the rights of litigants before courts.

Hatem Nu’ssan, a judge and advisor at the Court of Cassation in al-Rai city in the northern Aleppo countryside, told The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister edition that the decree serves the interests of justice, including transitional justice, as well as the advancement of the judicial process in Syria.

However, he noted that it would require supporting mechanisms in order for fair judicial outcomes to be achieved.

“We are in the year 2025, and other countries are ahead of us when it comes to judicial procedures," he said.

"Syria was isolated from the world, and therefore the return of defected judges, especially those with international experience, who are up to date with legal practices in neighbouring countries – European and Arab - should be utilised."

He described the step as "correct" but said additional measures would be needed to build a just legal system that “keeps pace with electronic and digital developments" and ensures that the judiciary is "transparent and impartial".

The Syrian Ministry of Justice continues to hold talks aimed at developing Syria’s judicial system, most recently last month with delegations from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Amnesty International.

The meetings addressed ways to rehabilitate court infrastructure, strengthen the judiciary’s role in the country, and support transitional justice.

During his meetings with the delegations, Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Weis said that Syria was ready to cooperate with all parties and that the government was open to dialogue based on national interests.

Stability, he said, would require a process of transitional justice and the support of international organisations in documenting violations and providing redress.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.