Syria Justice & Accountability Centre

German Court Ruling Must Not Risk Premature Assessments of Syria or Jumpstart Returns

For over six months, several EU member states have suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals, rightly citing shifting and uncertain conditions on the ground as a barrier to assessing claims of persecution

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #98: Facebook Chats reveal Pattern of Violence and Manipulation

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #98 Hearing Date: February 20, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of

Child Recruitment Practices Continue in Syria Before and After the Fall of Assad

In April 2024, the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) published “She is Still a Child,” a report based on interviews with 22 families that documented 23 cases of child recruitment between August 2022 and

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #19: Simulating Symptoms?

TRIAL OF AHMAD H. Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #19 Hearing Dates: November 26 & 27, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #97: Forensic Assessment Reveals Sadistic Tendencies

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #97 Hearing Date: February 11 & 13, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim

A First Step Towards Transitional Justice in Syria

On May 17, President Al-Sharaa signed Decree No. 20 regarding the formation of a National Commission for Transitional Justice (NCTJ). The Decree provides that the NCTJ will be responsible for “uncovering the truth about grave

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #96: Silent Traces: The Digital Evidence Against Alaa M.

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #96 Hearing Date: February 6, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #18: Trial Suspended Over Mental Health Concerns

TRIAL OF AHMAD H. Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #18 Hearing Dates: November 12 & 13, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a

Update: SJAC Resume Programs Suspended by U.S. Aid Freeze

On January 24th, 2025, SJAC announced that a stop-work order issued by the Department of State had suspended many of our programs in Syria and around the world. We are grateful for the immediate support

Revenge Killings Targeting Assad Regime Affiliates (December 2024 - May 2025)

Since the collapse of the Assad government in early December, SJAC has been tracking the violence erupting across Syria to identify trends emerging in targeted victims. After analyzing media reports and interviews conducted by SJAC

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #95: The Silent Killings of Tishreen

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #95 Hearing Date: January 28 & 30, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim

EVENT: The Prospects for Justice in Post-Assad Syria

FREE RSVP (REQUIRED) This is an in-person event. Join the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) at Busboys and Poets for “The Prospects for Justice in Post-Assad Syria,” an honest conversation with SJAC’s Executive

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #17: Key Witness Resummoned as Trial Evidence Concludes

TRIAL OF AHMAD H. Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #17 Hearing Date: October 30, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript

The Syrian Government Must Investigate the Targeting of Alawite Civilians in Homs

Multiple times per week since early 2025, SJAC has received reports about Syrians, both men and women, being killed by “unknown gunmen” or found dead bearing gunshot wounds. Based upon interviews conducted by SJAC documenters

WITNESS PROTECTION IN FRANCE

GUIDE FOR WITNESSES OF CRIMES COMMITTED IN SYRIA العربية Français Guide to Witness Protection in FranceWitness Protection in France.pdf2 MBdownload-circle Guides for Other European Countries * Witness Protection in Germany PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE 1

PROTECTION DES TÉMOINS EN FRANCE

GUIDE POUR LES TÉMOINS DE CRIMES COMMIS EN SYRIE English العربية GUIDE DE PROTECTION DES TÉMOINS EN FRANCEGUIDE DE PROTECTION DES TÉMOINS EN FRANCE.pdf2 MBdownload-circle OBJET DU GUIDE 1 - ÉLIGIBILITÉ : Les personnes éligibles

Inside the Ahmad H. Trial #16: Unresolved Discrepancies

TRIAL OF AHMAD H. Hanseatic Higher Regional Court – Hamburg, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #16 Hearing Date: October 16, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript

Samir Al-Sheikh Bail Hearing - Remains a Flight Risk

Trial Monitoring reports of the Samir Al Sheikh trial are a result of a partnership between the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) and the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic (LJAC) at LMU Loyola Law

Update on SGBV Violations Committed by the Assad Government - The Syrian Government’s Weaponization of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Through these interviews, SJAC found that the Syrian government’s involvement in SGBV related abuses was widespread, systematic, and officially sanctioned by the Assad Government.

Inside the Alaa M. Trial #94: Doctors of Death in Syrian Military Hospitals: Distressing Witness Account

TRIAL OF ALAA M. Higher Regional Court – Frankfurt, Germany Trial Monitoring Summary #94 Hearing Date: January 21 & 23, 2025 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is not a verbatim

Inside the Dabbagh Trial #04: The Verdict

TRIAL OF ALI MAMLOUK, JAMIL HASSAN AND ABDEL SALAM MAHMOUD OR “DABBAGH TRIAL” Court of Appeal – Paris, France Hearing Date: May 24, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is

A Step towards Justice: ten years later

With the departure of Assad, comprehensive justice for Syrians finally appeared to be on the horizon. Renewed clashes in the first weeks of March only serve to underline the importance of holding perpetrators accountable without

A Problematic Constitutional Declaration

On March 13, Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa signed a Constitutional Declaration (unofficial English translation) which will dictate the terms of governance in Syria for the next five years. There is something in the document for

Inside the Dabbagh Trial #03

TRIAL OF ALI MAMLOUK, JAMIL HASSAN AND ABDEL SALAM MAHMOUD OR “DABBAGH TRIAL” Court of Appeal – Paris, France Hearing Date: May 23, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is

The State of Justice in Syria 2025

The “State of Justice in Syria, 2025” is the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre’s (SJAC) sixth annual report focusing on human rights violations and justice efforts in Syria in 2024. This year, Syrians continued

Inside the Dabbagh Trial #02

TRIAL OF ALI MAMLOUK, JAMIL HASSAN AND ABDEL SALAM MAHMOUD OR “DABBAGH TRIAL” Court of Appeal – Paris, France Hearing Date: May 22, 2024 CAUTION: Some testimony includes descriptions of torture. Note that this summary is

SJAC’s Analysis of Atrocities Committed in Latakia and Tartous

Overview On March 6, 2025, a group of pro-Assad insurgents ambushed members of the new government’s General Security forces near Jableh (Latakia governorate), killing more than 13 members. Pro-Assad groups launched several similar attacks

WITNESS PROTECTION IN GERMANY: GUIDE FOR WITNESSES OF CRIMES COMMITTED IN SYRIA

A witness refers to a person who provides information about a specific event or course of events in an investigation and/or trial, which constitutes important evidence in court proceedings.

ZEUGENSCHUTZ IN DEUTSCHLAND: LEITFADEN FÜR ZEUGEN UND ZEUGINNEN VON IN SYRIEN BEGANGENEN VERBRECHEN

>>العربية >>English ZEUGENSCHUTZ IN DEUTSCHLANDWitness Protection Guide - German (SJAC).pdf597 KBdownload-circle Leitfaden für andere europaïsche Länder * Protection Des Témoins En France Klicken Sie auf die Überschrift, um zum Abschnitt zu

The Fight for Justice in a Post-Assad Syria

Thirteen years ago, SJAC began preparing for the day after the fall of the Assad government, with the steadfast belief that Syrians would someday have an opportunity to pursue meaningful justice and accountability for the

27 November 2021

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