Transitional Justice Rejected by Alawite Council, Decries Political Bias & Sectarian Exclusion

By Staff, Agencies

The Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the Diaspora has firmly rejected the legitimacy of the newly formed National Commission for Transitional Justice, casting doubt on both the legal foundation and impartiality of the body announced by Syria’s transitional authorities.

In a strongly worded statement released by its Office of Coordination and Public Relations for Local and International Affairs, the Council declared the commission “null and void,” arguing that the transitional president lacks the legislative authority to establish such an entity. “It is neither within the rights nor the authority of the head of the de facto authority to form such a body,” the statement asserted.

The Council accused the commission of being politically motivated and selectively focused, noting that its mandate is restricted to investigating abuses committed by the former regime while entirely ignoring “crimes committed by opposition and revolutionary forces,” as well as attacks on Alawite and Druze communities in the aftermath of the government’s collapse.

The statement argued that a legitimate transitional justice process in Syria must be internationally sanctioned. “True justice can only be achieved through a referral by the UN Security Council to the International Criminal Court, or by creating an international investigative and judicial body that includes judges from all Syrian factions,” the Council emphasized. Any final accountability mechanism, it insisted, must be subject to a national referendum—giving Syrians the choice between “a general amnesty or limited prosecution of top criminals from all sides.”

While stressing that transitional justice should not become a tool for vengeance, the Council warned that “amnesty must not include wealth stolen from the Syrian people.” It also condemned what it described as the commission's “deliberate exclusion of genocide and violence targeting minorities,” particularly Alawite and Druze populations, demanding a comprehensive framework that ensures deterrence, reparations, reconciliation and institutional reform.

The appointment of Abdel Baset Abdel Latif—a figure affiliated with the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and head of the FSA's Eastern Lions Army—was cited as further evidence of the commission’s lack of neutrality.

“Politicizing transitional justice deepens societal divisions and further erodes the trust between Syria’s diverse communities and state institutions,” the Council warned. It argued that this could delay security and development, weaken the rule of law, and spark renewed cycles of violence.

The Council also pointed to discrepancies between this recent move and earlier promises made by transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa – known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani – during his speech in Riyadh, where he vowed to respect international law, lift sanctions, and ensure equal rights for all Syrians. “The formation of this commission stands in stark contrast to Sharaa’s rhetoric of unity and lawful governance,” the Council concluded, warning that efforts to dilute the principles of transitional justice violate the spirit of UN Resolution 2254 and international efforts for Syrian peace and stability.

The transitional authorities announced the formation of the commission on Saturday, tasking it with uncovering “grave violations by the defunct regime,” delivering reparations, and promoting national reconciliation. According to the decree, the commission—granted legal and financial autonomy—has 30 days to draft its bylaws.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced the consolidation of all military units under the Ministry of Defense, aiming to eliminate fragmented loyalties. This follows the formal dissolution of the former regime’s military-security apparatus and the disbanding of factions including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Despite these reforms, transitional authorities still face widespread challenges in establishing control across Syria, with ongoing tensions, armed groups and areas resistant to central authority continuing to pose major obstacles—issues reminiscent of externally fueled divisions seen elsewhere, particularly in "Israel"-occupied regions and US-backed operations across the region.