Damascus, Oct. 28 (SANA) A competent court has sentenced Abdul Jabbar Ghazi Arziq to life imprisonment after convicting him of joining an armed group affiliated with the Liwa al-Quds militia, which is linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the ruling, the group aimed to incite civil war and sectarian fighting and seize cities. The acts were classified under the relevant legal provisions as war crimes and crimes against humanity, given their connection to systematic and widespread crimes committed under the deposed regime.
Lawyer Radif Mustafa, director of the Accountability and Prosecution Department at the National Commission for Transitional Justice, told SANA on Wednesday that the gravity of the acts and the threat they posed to civilians and social peace were among the considerations underpinning the life sentence.
The court denied the defendant mitigating circumstances and ruled that he would not be eligible for either a general or special amnesty, in accordance with the judgment.
Grave Crimes are not Erased by Political Changes
Mustafa said the ruling confirms that grave crimes cannot be erased by political changes or changing circumstances, adding that accountability must be based on facts, evidence and judicial procedures to ensure those responsible for violations are held accountable, impunity is addressed, and victims and their families receive justice.
He said the Accountability and Prosecution Department continues to follow up on cases involving serious violations and crimes and to collect information and evidence in accordance with established procedures.
The department urged anyone with relevant information or evidence to submit it through the commission’s official channels, helping advance truth-seeking and accountability while safeguarding the confidentiality of information and the safety of witnesses and those cooperating with the process.
Mustafa stressed that justice is not achieved through court rulings alone, but also requires continued efforts to uncover the truth, hold those responsible accountable under the law, safeguard victims’ rights and prevent a recurrence of the crimes Syrians suffered during decades of rule by the deposed regime.
MHD
