Who's next after the Assad death sentence? Justice awaits for the 3,500 former regime figures still at large
A death sentence against a once-feared cousin of Bashar Al Assad has helped assuage a mass thirst for retribution in Syria . However, thousands of members of the former regime and its associates remain at large. Some have even been spared prosecution as the new order seeks social and political alliances to boost its power. Atif Najib was one of 6,000 former regime members on whom the authorities…
With the recent death sentence handed to Atif Najib, a cousin of former President Bashar Al Assad, the quest for justice in Syria has taken another step forward. However, thousands of former regime members and their associates still roam the country, with varying degrees of scrutiny from the current authorities.
Najib, a former political intelligence commander, was convicted for his role in the brutal suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations in Deraa, a province that served as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising. This act of justice, however, only scratches the surface of the vast number of individuals who remain at large. According to a Syrian official, about 40 percent of the 6,000 former regime members have been apprehended, yet the Syrian government has largely spared other key figures from prosecution.
The situation has led to a mix of reactions, with some Alawite figures being spared in an attempt to build alliances and bolster the new regime's power. However, this approach has been met with skepticism, as some fear it may further erode civil peace and create a climate of impunity. Former warlord Fadi Saqr and businessman Khaled Al Ahmad, both former associates of Assad, have been spared, despite their involvement in the militia and the Tadamon massacre.
Civil society groups, such as the Co-ordination Committee of the neighbourhood, have criticized the government's approach, emphasizing the need for an institutionalized approach to justice and civil peace. They point to the ongoing revenge killings and the treatment of Alawite figures as evidence of the crisis in seeking justice and stability in Syria.
The UN Commission of Inquiry in Syria has also reported war crimes committed by both government forces and former Assad loyalists, further highlighting the urgency of addressing these issues.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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