Inside the Trial of Mohammad S. #2: Broken Pledges

TRIAL OF MOHAMMAD S.

The 4th Military Criminal Court – Damascus, Syria

Trial Monitoring Summary #2

Hearing Date: October 6, 2026

CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts. 

Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it is merely an unofficial summary of the proceedings. 

Throughout this summary, [information located in brackets are notes from our trial monitor] and “information placed in quotes are statements made by the witness, Judges or counsel.” The names and identifying information of witnesses have been redacted. 

[Note: SJAC provides a summary of the proceedings while redacting certain details to protect witness privacy and to preserve the integrity of the trial.]

SJAC’s 2nd trial monitoring report details day 3 of the Mohammad S. trial in Damascus, Syria. On this trial day, 17 Plaintiffs in the case were present, and several of them testified and were heard before the Court. The witnesses testified that they owned buildings in the area, but these structures were demolished by the Accused under the pretext of being structurally unsafe, whereas the actual reason was plundering and looting. They reported that the Accused demolished part of a mosque in the area. The imam of that mosque delivered his testimony before the Court. After the head of the security detachment in the area intervened to resolve the dispute, the Accused pledged to repair the damaged portion of the mosque, yet he failed to fulfill it. The witnesses further testified that the Accused had connections to security agencies and used them to threaten people.

Day 3 – October 6, 2026

[There was media coverage by the Ministry of Justice]

The session commenced at 3:10PM [note: The start of the hearing was delayed, as it was scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM.] The case is being tried by three judges, including Presiding Judge Fakhruddin Al-Aryan.

The in-person trial of the Accused Mohammad S. commenced publicly.

The Accused appeared in person and uncuffed.

Defense Counsel C1 [redacted name] appeared on behalf of the Accused pursuant to a power of attorney.

Counsel C2 [redacted name] appeared on behalf of the Plaintiffs.

Then the Court called out the names of the Plaintiffs present inside the courtroom [Note: Some names were not heard clearly]:

[The Plaintiffs’ names were redacted.]

After the attendance of the Plaintiffs was verified, the Presiding Judge began questioning them, and several of them testified and were heard.

All witnesses reaffirmed their previous statements, explaining that they owned residential buildings and apartments in the area, and that these structures were subjected to demolition and destruction under the pretext that they were at risk of collapse, whereas the true purpose - according to the witnesses - was the theft of iron rebar, looting, and plundering construction debris.

Some witnesses reported that Accused Mohammad S. had connections to security agencies and carried out these acts pursuant to an agreement with them. The witnesses added that he used to threaten some residents using the security agencies.

The witnesses indicated that Accused Mohammad S. and his group demolished about 30% of a mosque in the area. Despite the Accused's pledge to restore the demolished section, he failed to fulfill it.

[Note: Witness P41 was deaf and mute. Therefore, his son translated his testimony, as he knew sign language and could communicate with P41.]

P47 appeared before the Court. P47 reported that part of the Al-Baraa Mosque in the area was demolished. Upon witnessing this, he informed the neighborhood Mukhtar [i.e. Headman], [redacted name], of what had occurred to the mosque. The Mukhtar advised him to contact the Accused and inform him of what he had seen. After P47 contacted him, the Accused replied that he would take care of the matter, as it had occurred by mistake. The following day, the third floor was removed [demolished]. Upon arriving, P47 did not see who had done it, consequently, he contacted the Accused. The Accused then came to the mosque. P47 told him that the Accused's group was responsible for this, to which the Accused mockingly responded, asking, "Whose mosque is this?" P47 answered that it is the house of God. The Accused then pointed at the security detachment in the area and blasphemed against God.

The Prosecutor requested to hear the testimony of P54, [redacted name], the imam of said mosque, whereupon P54 appeared before the Court as a witness.

P54 testified that he was present at the time of the incident and saw Accused Mohammad S. demolishing part of the mosque. P54 noted that they submitted an objection to the head of the detachment, named Abu Haidar, who intervened to resolve the dispute and compel the Accused to restore the mosque.

Upon concluding the hearing of the witnesses, the Court decided to adjourn the hearing for requests, prosecution arguments, and defense.

The proceedings were adjourned at 4:00PM.  

The next trial day will be on October 21, 2026, at 11:00AM.

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