The Syrian authorities have announced the formation of two new bodies focused on transitional justice and missing persons, two of the most sensitive and complex issues confronting the country in the wake of the Assad regime’s ousting.
A decree signed early last week by Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of Syria’s transitional phase, outlined the establishment of a commission tasked with “revealing the truth about the grave violations committed by the former regime, holding those responsible accountable in coordination with relevant authorities, redressing the harm inflicted on victims, and reinforcing the principles of non-recurrence and national reconciliation.”
Transitional Justice: Between Official Promises and Public Doubts
Abdel Basset Abdel Latif was appointed head of the Transitional Justice Commission under the new decree. He has been granted 30 days to form a working group and draft the internal regulations that will govern the body.
Damascus has pledged to advance a comprehensive transitional justice process, establishing an independent entity to hold perpetrators accountable for crimes committed since the outbreak of conflict in 2011, and to prevent the recurrence of such violations. These steps come amid ongoing international calls for the implementation of genuine transitional justice in Syria.
In parallel, the creation of the National Authority for Missing Persons addresses the fate of thousands who disappeared during the Syrian revolution. The newly formed commission has been tasked with investigating the whereabouts of missing and forcibly disappeared individuals, documenting cases, building a national database, and providing legal and humanitarian support to affected families.
The Authority is led by Mohammad Reza Khilji, who was previously appointed in March as a member of the committee responsible for drafting a constitutional declaration. Both commissions, on transitional justice and missing persons, have been granted full legal status, as well as financial and administrative independence, according to the official decrees.
A governance researcher, who requested anonymity, voiced scepticism about the legitimacy of these steps. “It’s difficult to take such moves seriously,” he said in a statement to +963, pointing out that “it is difficult to expect the victors to hold themselves accountable.”
He declined to make comments that might raise false hopes or stir public sentiment but emphasised that, historically, justice has often been “justice of the victors.” As an example, he pointed to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where, despite the scale of devastation, the United States was never held accountable.
Separately, the Syrian Ministry of Defence has announced the integration of all military factions into a unified structure under its command. In a post on X, Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra stated, “Following the liberation of Syria, we began the immediate process of integrating military units into a unified institutional framework. Today, we proudly share with our people the news of the full integration of all units under the Syrian Ministry of Defence.”
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The Missing Persons File and the Merging of Factions: A Test of the New State’s Intentions
In this context, Syrian journalist Baraa Othman Abu al-Yusr noted that the announcement of two national bodies, one for transitional justice and the other for missing persons, alongside the Ministry of Defence’s launch of the military factions’ unification process, marks what he described as a qualitative shift in Syrian national efforts. He framed it as a serious attempt to establish institutional structures capable of addressing the most painful and complex issues in the Syrian experience.
Speaking to +963, Abu al-Yusr emphasised that the transitional justice process, including uncovering the fate of tens of thousands of missing persons, is neither a political luxury nor merely a human entitlement; it is, in his words, a foundational pillar in building a post-tyranny state. He argued that Syrians cannot move forward without first addressing the wounds of the past and the violations committed by the repressive regime, which deeply fractured Syrian society.
He further stated that merging the armed factions under a single national command is a necessary step toward ending the fragmentation and security chaos that internal and external enemies of the revolution had exploited. According to Abu al-Yusr, this unification enhances military discipline, improves national defence capabilities, and eliminates the multiple loyalties that weakened the revolutionary cause at several critical junctures.
He stressed that the significance of these developments lies not just in their announcement, but in the level of transparency and governance that will accompany their implementation. He underlined that genuine success requires meaningful participation from both civilian and military stakeholders, while ensuring that victims of violations and the broader fabric of Syrian society are adequately represented.
Abu al-Yusr also highlighted the broader regional and international context, which is witnessing a shift in how the Syrian crisis is being approached.
There is growing recognition, he said, that neglecting justice and accountability will only lead to a resurgence of violence and extremism. He noted that the international community, particularly the United Nations and the European Union, now views justice and accountability as essential pillars of any viable political resolution.
He concluded his remarks by asserting that these initiatives must reflect a truly national and inclusive will, free from factional or regional rivalries, to genuinely serve as a foundation for the future Syrian state, a state grounded in citizenship and the rule of law.
According to Abu al-Yusr, lasting stability cannot be achieved without recognising victims, enforcing accountability, and unifying the tools necessary to defend Syria’s land and dignity, all in preparation for a new social contract that leaves no one behind.
The outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, held last February, echoed these sentiments. The final communique stressed the importance of transitional justice and the need to hold accountable those responsible for crimes and violations committed during the Assad era.
In this same context, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has repeatedly affirmed that Syria is pressing ahead with efforts to hold criminals accountable and deliver justice to its people.
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Similarly, Syrian lawyer Bakr Mustafa described the two steps, the formation of the commissions and the merging of armed factions, as essential in principle and direction for building a genuine homeland, one aligned with nations that have chosen the path of civilisation and prosperity.
Speaking to +963, Mustafa said the success of these steps depends on two key conditions: “First, a sincere intention to establish a state grounded in citizenship, justice, and pluralism, not simply seizing the instruments of power from one political opponent to install another monopoly. There can be no talk of true democratic transition if the goal remains exclusion and repression, regardless of who is in power.”
The second condition, he explained, is that the law must become a lived reality, not mere slogans or documents gathering dust in institutional drawers. Without actual implementation, every reform initiative becomes a hollow gesture. “What’s the value of creating committees like the “Committee for Missing Persons” or the “Fact-Finding Committee” on the Massacres of the Syrian Coast,” he asked, “if these bodies are built on shaky political foundations, lack objectivity, and fail to meet even the minimum standards of impartiality and professionalism?” In such cases, he warned, they serve only to deepen divisions and reinforce the public’s mistrust in the institutions of justice.
