Inside the Trial of Mohammad S. #3: Three Briefs

TRIAL OF MOHAMMAD S.

The 4th Military Criminal Court – Damascus, Syria

Trial Monitoring Summary #3

Hearing Date: October 21, 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 3rd trial monitoring report details day 4 of the Mohammad S. trial in Damascus, Syria. On this trial day, the Prosecutor requested the imposition of the maximum penalties provided by law against the Accused, Mohammad S., based on the acts he committed, which consisted of seizing, demolishing, and looting real estate and homes, utilizing the security and military arms of the regime. According to the Prosecution, this elevates these acts to grave violations amounting to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Conversely, the Defense Counsel submitted a two-page defense brief, in which he requested the acquittal of his client of all charges brought against him.

The Plaintiffs’ Counsel submitted a brief containing evidence and facts proving the guilt of the Accused, Mohammad S., requesting the imposition of the maximum deterrent penalties against the Accused, along with obligating him to pay compensation for the material damages incurred by the Plaintiffs due to the demolition and looting of their homes.

Day 4 – October 21, 2026

[There was media coverage by the Ministry of Justice, along with local and Arab coverage, and attendance by international organizations.]

The session commenced at 11:20PM. 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.

The Presiding Judge requested the Prosecutor to read his brief.

The Prosecutor began his brief by pointing out that the Public Prosecution is the pulse of justice and its living conscience, and its goal is to achieve justice for society.

He stated that the Accused, Mohammad S., seized real estate and homes in the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad area, then demolished the buildings and looted their contents. These acts were carried out within a criminal, unlawful, and systematic scheme. He added that these matters were not the result of a standard dispute between him and the rightful owners, rather, they resulted from systematic criminal conduct in which the Accused exploited administrative decisions issued by the “former regime,” leveraging and utilizing the military and security arms of that regime after it destroyed an entire section of society, looted its property, and forcibly displaced it. This elevated his acts to severe and systematic human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, which are not subject to general amnesties or statutes of limitations.

The Prosecutor then continued by stating that the facts of this case and the investigations gathered throughout its different stages - particularly the large volume of testimonies, all of which unanimously concurred that the Accused demolished the buildings, stole their contents, and looted them, in addition to the evidence contained in the case file - prove the liability of the Accused for the acts attributed to him. Therefore, the Public Prosecution requests the Court to convict the Accused pursuant to Article (627) of the Penal Code and sentence him to the maximum penalties.

After that, the Presiding Judge requested Defense Counsel C1 to present the defense brief, whereupon C1 submitted a two-page brief containing all the facts and evidence pertaining to the Accused. C1 requested an acquittal for his client.

The Presiding Judge also requested Plaintiffs’ Counsel C2 to present his brief, whereupon C2 submitted it containing the facts and evidence convicting the Accused, Mohammad S., requesting the imposition of the maximum deterrent penalty against the Accused, along with obligating him to pay appropriate compensation for the material damage incurred by all affected Plaintiffs because of what he did to their homes and buildings, and the looting of their contents.

After C1 and C2 finished submitting their briefs, the Court decided to adjourn the session for review and judgment.

The proceedings were adjourned at 11:45PM.  

The next trial day will be on November 10, 2026, at 11:00AM.

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