Damascus, Aug. 12 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Justice said court rulings issued Tuesday against several figures of the deposed regime were based on law, evidence and judicial files and guaranteed the right to defense, in response to an Amnesty International statement on the proceedings.
The ministry said Amnesty International’s remarks on the death penalty, trials in absentia and judicial reform did not accurately reflect the nature of the judicial procedures followed in the cases or the safeguards guaranteed to litigants under Syrian law.
In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the ministry said the trials were held before a specialized civilian criminal court, conducted by qualified judges and attended by victims and their representatives in accordance with legal procedures.
It said the proceedings observed constitutional and legal safeguards as well as relevant rules and principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The rulings were based on facts, evidence and judicial files, while the rights of defense and avenues for appeal and objection were guaranteed under applicable procedures, the ministry said.
Legal and moral responsibility to achieve justice
The ministry said it respected the interest of international human rights organizations in justice and human rights issues, while stressing that Syria’s current circumstances and the legacy of years of crimes and violations placed a legal and moral responsibility on the state to achieve justice and hold those responsible accountable.
It said pursuing accountability did not mean bypassing constitutional and legal safeguards or infringing on the rights of any party to the proceedings.
Justice in these cases is being pursued through state institutions and within their jurisdictions, the ministry said, while preserving victims’ right to redress and defendants’ right to be tried in accordance with the law.
Rule of law and judicial independence
The ministry said the rule of Syrian law and the independence of the judiciary were the foundation for administering justice in the new Syria.
It described the judicial reform underway as a comprehensive national process aimed at strengthening judicial independence, consolidating fair-trial guarantees and developing legislation and judicial institutions.
The ministry said those efforts were intended to strengthen citizens’ confidence in the judiciary and ensure there is no impunity, while keeping the justice process free from revenge or politicization.
Addressing the death penalty, the ministry said it is prescribed under Syrian law and can only be imposed through a judicial ruling based on law, evidence and facts. Any execution of such a sentence is subject to established legal safeguards and controls and cannot take place until all stages and procedures required by law and the competent authorities have been completed.
The ministry also said trials in absentia, when permitted by law and when their legal conditions are met, do not in themselves negate guarantees of justice or the legality of the proceedings.
Rulings welcomed among Syrians
The ministry said the rulings had been widely welcomed among Syrians as a step toward accountability and redress for victims, and as confirmation that the Syrian judiciary was moving forward with applying the law and holding those responsible for crimes accountable, away from revenge and retribution.
It reiterated its openness to dialogue with international human rights organizations and said it was prepared to consider observations that could contribute to developing the justice system.
[8/12/2026 11:11 AM] Ec Sana: The ministry stressed, however, that evaluating judicial proceedings, adjudicating cases and determining responsibilities and penalties remain within the jurisdiction of the Syrian judiciary, which exercises its authority under the constitution and law while safeguarding the rights of all parties and victims’ right to justice.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, headed by Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, issued its ruling Tuesday in the case against Atef Najib and several fugitive defendants.
The court sentenced Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, Atef Najib and five fugitive defendants to death after convicting them of murder, torture, deprivation of liberty, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The public prosecution against defendant Mohammad Ayman Ayoush was dropped following his death.
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