Syria to begin public trials for those accused of crimes during coastal massacres

Syria’s National Committee for Investigation of Events on the Syrian Coast has announced that it will hold its first public session to try those accused of committing violations last March in the coastal region on Monday.

The head of the committee, Judge Jumaa Al-Anzi announced the start of the sessions in a post on the social platform X on Sunday evening, adding that they “will be open to local and international media”.

“Great efforts were made by the Syrian Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Defence, as well as the judiciary and law enforcement, to reach this outcome. We recognize the magnitude and complexity of the file and what it requires in terms of precision and scrutiny,” Al-Anzi added.

Clashes in the Alawite-majority Syrian coast last March began with an uprising by fighters loyal to the former regime of President Bashar al-Assad against the government.

The Syrian Ministries of Defence and Interior sent reinforcements to the area to put down the uprising, but pro-government militias and armed local civilians also became involved in the fighting.

Syrian government and government-affiliated forces committed crimes against Alawite civilians in the ensuing violence. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented a total of 1,334 deaths, with 889 people being killed by government security forces and 446 killed by fighters loyal to the former Assad regime.

Last July, the Syrian investigative committee, which was formed by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa following the violence, said it had identified 298 suspects responsible for crimes against civilians on the coast, as well as 265 accused of attacking government forces.

The committee’s official spokesman, Yasser al-Farhan, said however that the evidence against them was not conclusive. It was based on questioning families and listening to testimonies from victims’ relatives, as well as photographic and video evidence.

Speaking to Syrian news channel Al-Ikhbariya Al-Souriya Al-Anzi said that the trials held on Monday will include individuals from both sides accused of violations. He said more suspects will be tried later.

Another outbreak of sectarian violence took place in Syria last July when Druze militias clashed with mostly Sunni Bedouin tribes in the southern province of Suweida. Government forces intervened and were also accused of committing crimes against civilians.

Syria announced on Sunday that it had arrested some members of the security forces over these crimes. Since the violence in July, Suweida province has been under the control of local Druze leaders, some of whom have expressed separatist sentiments while asking Israel for support.