Damascus: Syria’s Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais has announced that the government has formally demanded the handover of former President Bashar al-Assad and his associates as part of an ongoing transitional justice process, according to Anadolu Agency.
Speaking on Sunday, Wais said the Syrian state has stressed “the necessity of handing over Bashar al-Assad and all those involved with him,” urging a clear legal process that compels states to fulfil their legal and moral responsibilities. He added that Syrian authorities would pursue all alleged criminals through “appropriate and internationally legitimate legal means.”
The remarks come days after Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree granting a general amnesty for certain crimes and reducing sentences for others. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Wais described the amnesty as a “pressing necessity imposed by the complex legal and legislative reality,” calling it constitutional and legally sound.
According to the justice minister, the decree was implemented immediately upon issuance, resulting in the release of approximately 1,500 detainees so far. He estimated that nearly half a million Syrians could potentially benefit from the amnesty.
However, Wais emphasised that the pardon does not apply to individuals responsible for serious crimes against the Syrian people. “No one involved in (spilling) a single drop of blood against the Syrian people has been or will be released,” he said.
Addressing the broader transitional justice framework, Wais stated that the ministry is following a balanced approach that rejects both revenge and impunity. He indicated that trials under this framework are expected to begin in the near future once judicial files are completed with sufficient evidence and documentation.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in late 2024, bringing an end to the Baath Party’s decades-long rule that began in 1963. A new transitional administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.
