Rights group questions Damascus’s ability to investigate coastal violence
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A human rights report released on Tuesday by Syrians for Truth and Justice casts doubt on the Syrian transitional government’s ability to carry out a credible investigation into the recent coastal violence.
The report highlighted that the events were accompanied by hate speech targeting the Alawite community. It also noted that arrests and gunfire directed at civilian property had occurred two days prior to the incidents.
The report further addressed growing security tensions in Jaramana in rural Damascus and Sanamayn in the countryside of Daraa.
According to the findings, the coastal violence began after 15 members of the General Security forces were killed in coordinated ambushes. Simultaneously, the Latakia countryside witnessed a security breakdown, coinciding with the formation of a new military council led by Ghiath Dalla.
The report stated that on the first day alone, 70 individuals affiliated with the General Security forces and the former regime were killed. This violence was accompanied by rumors and disinformation, some of which were spread by an Arabic-language TV channel.
“At the same time, rumors and unverified reports began to circulate, as reported by the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, indicating that deposed President Bashar al-Assad is aware of the ongoing coordination among various armed groups, with the support and oversight of a foreign nation …This has undoubtedly complicated the situation.”
These developments sparked unprecedented public and sectarian tension, particularly among the Sunni community. Many perceived the events as a “coup attempt” and a “rebellion” against the new authority under Ahmad al-Sharaa, allegedly instigated by supporters of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
At the same time, widespread and unprecedented calls for “general mobilization” emerged across several areas of Syria. Hate speech and incitement to violence spread rapidly on social media platforms.
The report added that despite the alarming situation, the transitional authorities failed to take any serious action to curb these inflammatory narratives or mitigate their effects. In fact, in his first speech, Ahmad al-Sharaa appeared to endorse the state of general mobilization.
Dozens of videos circulated showing militants affiliated with the Syrian transitional government committing massacres and desecrating sacred religious shrines belonging to the Alawite community.
Syrians for Truth and Justice raised serious concerns about the composition and mandate of the investigative committee established by the presidency. The organization questioned the transitional government’s commitment to justice and transparency, citing the committee’s formation process and operating procedures.
The report stressed that the committee should have included fully independent investigators from diverse Syrian regions—including the coastal areas affected by the events.
” STJ also believes that the committee’s membership should consist of fully independent investigators from diverse Syrian regions, including the Syrian coast, rather than being limited to representatives from a single group or sect. Having independent members from the areas where the violations occurred would provide reassurance and build confidence among victims and their families, encouraging their cooperation with the committee.”
Furthermore, the presidential decree that formed the committee failed to specify the legal framework under which it operates or how it should classify the violations committed.
It also did not contain any provision requiring the committee to publish its findings, raising concerns that the results could be withheld or manipulated for internal political purposes rather than focusing on justice.
The organization expressed serious concerns that decades of corruption, cronyism, judicial fragmentation, and the Syrian judiciary’s current incapacity to address war crimes severely undermine the possibility of fair, independent, transparent, and public trials.
Syrians for Truth and Justice warned “the report’s findings may be incomplete or politically motivated. There is also a risk that crimes could be attributed to “unknown parties,” with no legal process available for victims to appeal decisions or request the reopening of the investigation if it is deemed lacking or insufficient.”
The organization noted that “The Syrian transitional government must publicly announce the investigation’s results. The committee must release a detailed report containing the gathered facts, the names of the identified individuals and officials involved, and those who instigated the events. This will enable the public to access the investigation’s findings and help prevent any attempts to conceal evidence.“