Damascus, SANA- On the Day Marking the Convention Against Torture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement welcoming the legal actions undertaken by the Netherlands and Canada before the International Court of Justice to hold the former regime accountable for the systematic crimes committed against the Syrian people, most notably torture, arbitrary detention, and inhumane treatment.
The statement reads:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria welcomes the robust efforts of the Netherlands and Canada at the International Court of Justice through their Memorial in the case concerning the Application of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which details the unspeakable crimes of mass torture committed by the Assad regime. As the political and legal context underpinning this case has changed since the fall of the Assad regime, the new government will work in close collaboration with the Netherlands and Canada to ensure that the case meets its intended purpose.
The case files contain extensive volumes of evidence detailing the horrifying torture and other brutal violations committed under the Assad regime for decades. Since 2019 – when this legal process began – these nations have worked tirelessly in collaboration with victims and survivors of systematic torture through a process aimed at holding the Assad regime accountable for its gross breaches of the Torture Convention. The evidence – including images, expert reports, findings by international organizations, and witness testimonies, among other irrefutable documentation – clearly underscores that under the Assad regime, systematic torture, the use of chemical weapons, arbitrary detentions, and inhumane practices across various state institutions inflicted unimaginable suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.
Syria recognizes the resolute determination of the victims and their families. Their courage and perseverance amidst overwhelming odds serve as a powerful reminder that justice must remain an uncompromising priority. The government is committed to ensuring that a victim-centered approach guides this process and will continue engaging closely with victims and their representatives at every stage.
The new Syrian government remains steadfast in its resolve to pursue accountability for the perpetrators who orchestrated these grave violations under the Assad regime.The newly formed Transitional Justice Commission has placed guarantees of non-recurrence of such crimes at the center of its work. The Commission will also employ all available national and international mechanisms to pursue justice and accountability for those who committed acts of torture under the rule of the Assad regime. Additionally, the Syrian government is prepared to engage through diplomatic and legal channels with any state where these perpetrators may have sought refuge, reaffirming Syria’s unwavering determination to counter impunity for the heinous crimes committed during Assad’s rule.
During the liberation of Syria from the oppressive grip of the Assad regime, we reaffirmed a profound commitment to ending the legacy of torture, beginning with the release of prisoners held in Assad’s dungeons, facilities now conclusively linked to the torture substantiated by the evidence presented by the Netherlands and Canada. Our constitutional declaration made it unequivocally clear that all international human rights treaties ratified by Syria, including the Convention against Torture, will be respected in the new Syria. This resolute approach was recognized unanimously by the Human Rights Council in its March decision, underscoring our collective commitment to ensuring that torture and its legacy have no place in the future of our nation. Having inherited a broken and unjust legal system, we are working with experts and civil society to implement reforms that will allow us to fully comply with our obligations.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the legal framework surrounding this case necessitates a renewed approach. The new government will actively engage with the Netherlands and Canada to ensure that the case effectively serves its intended purpose.
We welcome continued engagement with both countries in this endeavor and, alongside our already fruitful cooperation in other matters, remain committed to advancing this vital process in partnership – towards a just and peaceful Syria.
Nisreen Othman / Fedaa
