Damascus, July 4 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Justice has launched judicial proceedings against a number of individuals accused of involvement in last year’s events in Sweida, marking the transition from fact-finding to judicial accountability, according to Ammar Ezzedin, spokesperson for the National Investigation Committee into the Sweida events.
Speaking to SANA on Saturday, Ezzedin said the Military Public Prosecution had referred a number of suspects to an investigating judge over alleged offenses linked to the violence. The cases were subsequently transferred to the Military Criminal Court in Damascus.
The first public hearing was held on July 1 in the presence of the defendants and their legal representatives, in accordance with Syrian law and fair trial guarantees, Ezzedin said. The next hearing is scheduled for July 13.
“The referral of these cases to the competent judiciary and the commencement of public trials represent the transition from fact-finding to judicial accountability,” Ezzedin said, adding that justice can only be achieved through an independent judiciary that guarantees all parties their legal rights and holds those found responsible accountable on the basis of evidence and the law.
He said the public nature of the proceedings, respect for due process, and the protection of defendants’ right to legal representation demonstrate the judiciary’s commitment to the rule of law and send a clear message that all alleged violations will be subject to legal accountability without impunity or discrimination.
Ezzedin added that the judicial measures, undertaken in coordination between the committee and the Ministry of Justice, are intended to ensure accountability for alleged violations regardless of the party involved, in line with the committee’s recommendations. He said the process also aims to safeguard the rights of victims and their families, reinforce equality before the law, protect human rights, and uphold the dignity of all citizens.
He said the committee would continue cooperating with the Ministry of Justice and the competent judicial authorities by providing documents and evidence required to support the judicial process and strengthen the rule of law.
The National Investigation Committee into the Sweida events issued its final report on March 17 on the violence that occurred in the governorate in July 2025. The committee said its work focused on collecting evidence related to alleged violations, establishing the facts, providing an impartial assessment of the events, and determining responsibility.
According to the committee, it compiled 769 case files containing testimonies from 213 witnesses, 437 victims and relatives, as well as representatives of various communities. It documented 1,760 fatalities and 2,188 injuries across all parties, with casualties treated in hospitals in Sweida, Izra’ and Damascus, in addition to victims from tribal groups and military units.
The committee was established on July 31, 2025, as part of the state’s constitutional and legal responsibilities to investigate the events, uphold justice and the rule of law, protect the fundamental rights of citizens, and ensure accountability for anyone found responsible under Syrian law.
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