Damascus, Aug. 9 (SANA) Syrian National Commission for Transitional Justice on Sunday urged victims and witnesses to provide information about serious crimes committed while former Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar occupied senior government and security positions.
Radif Mustafa, director of the Accountability and Justice Department at the National Commission for Transitional Justice, said the appeal applied particularly to crimes dating from before 2011 and was covered by the commission’s mandate.
Before becoming interior minister, al-Shaar headed several security branches under the deposed regime.
Mustafa said testimony and legal claims could be submitted directly to the commission or to prosecution offices specialising in transitional justice in Syria’s provinces.
He said participation by victims, their families and other affected people could help complete the evidentiary record, connect witness accounts with documented events and protect victims’ rights during judicial proceedings.
Mustafa described victim participation as an essential part of transitional justice, saying it could support efforts to uncover the truth and deliver justice and redress.
He cautioned, however, that allegations alone did not establish criminal responsibility. All claims and testimonies would be evaluated and verified through legal procedures, while the competent courts would consider the evidence and guarantee the rights of all parties.
President Ahmad al-Sharaa established the National Commission for Transitional Justice through Decree No. 20 on May 17, 2025. The financially and administratively independent body operates throughout Syria and is tasked with helping address the legacy of past violations.
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