Introduction: From Assad’s Tyranny to the Responsibility of the Transitional State:
This article comes in the wake of the political collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the assumption of the presidency of the transitional period in Syria, a pivotal moment for rebuilding the state based on human rights legitimacy and civil participation.
The case of the enforced disappearance of Alawite women on the Syrian coast, documented by international organizations as of February 2025, represents an early test of the new authority’s ability to address the heavy legacy of tyranny and transition to institutions that achieve justice and protect human dignity without discrimination.
Human rights documentation as a basis for institutional intervention:
On July 28, 2025, Fadel Abdul Ghani, director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, called on the new Syrian authority to cooperate with Amnesty International following its recent report on the disappearance of dozens of women and girls in the governorates of Tartous, Latakia, Homs, and Hama since last February. The report classified these cases as “enforced disappearances,” based on testimonies and field information. Abdul Ghani pointed to the shortcomings of the National Committee established in late 2024 to investigate violations in the coastal area, calling for the case to be transferred to a more transparent official body, such as the Ministry of Social Affairs or an independent body linked to the Office of the President of the Republic, in line with a new era that embraces justice and accountability for those responsible for violations.
This case reflects a multi-layered complexity, as the victims belong to the Alawite sect, a sect stereotypically associated in the media and international human rights organizations with the Assad regime.
The new government, led by President al-Sharia, is called upon to use this case as a starting point to demonstrate its break with the culture of impunity and establish a comprehensive human rights discourse that transcends narrow affiliations and restores citizenship as the basis for protection and institutions.
The National Committee to Investigate Crimes in the Coast, established in December 2024, has demonstrated openness to international reports and has initiated serious investigations, although it has not issued any clear statements on the cases of disappearance. In this context, the transitional authority is required to evaluate the performance of the previous committees and re-strengthen them according to standards of independence and professionalism, ensuring they are transformed into tools for actual investigation, not tools for covering up violations.
Integrating the issue into the transitional justice project:
The disappearance of women in the Sahel is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader pattern of violence against women and security violations that deepened under the former regime.
This case underscores the need to integrate the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons into the comprehensive transitional justice process, which the new authority is working to develop.
The authority needs to establish an independent national body, linked to the presidency, comprising legal and human rights experts, to document and verify cases and cooperate with international bodies to achieve justice.
This body could also be part of a broader vision for reforming the judiciary and security services, ensuring the separation of powers.
International Cooperation: A Strategic Opportunity to Rebuild Trust:
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ call includes the government’s cooperation with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. This cooperation represents a golden opportunity for the new government to demonstrate its commitment to international standards and build bridges of trust with human rights organizations. This could positively impact its external legitimacy and pave the way for the launch of support and funding programs in the field of human rights and transitional justice.
The government’s response to this call could establish a model to be emulated in other cases of violations, demonstrate the state’s respect for local and international civil society, and transform the culture of denial into a culture of cooperation, recognition, and redress.
Sectarian Affiliation: Confirmation of the Government’s Bias toward Human Rights, Not Sectarianism:
The fact that the victims are Alawites redefines the transitional government as one that values the human being, not their affiliation.
This is an opportunity to establish a comprehensive human rights approach based on the principle of “individual dignity,” not the legacy of sectarianism.
In this context, the government could launch a national campaign aimed at supporting victims’ families, uncovering the truth, and providing compensation, regardless of the victim’s background. Such initiatives protect the new authority against attempts to cast doubt and grant it moral and societal legitimacy.
Therefore, we in the Political Bureau of the Syrian Future Movement present policy proposals that we believe are feasible:
- Issuing an official statement from the presidency acknowledging the violation and the government’s commitment to continuing the investigation until the case is concluded and ensuring that violations do not recur.
- Continuing the work of the National Commission of Inquiry and its full openness to national human rights institutions.
- Making the Independent National Commission for Missing Persons affiliated with the Ministry of Justice and working in cooperation with international organizations.
- Implementing psychological and social support programs for victims’ families, with a national budget allocated for this purpose.
- Cooperating with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on the basis of professional partnership, not political rivalry.
- Making enforced disappearances a central issue in the transitional justice process and issuing periodic reports in this regard.
Conclusion:
The issue of the missing women in the Sahel constitutes a real test of the new authority’s ability to transition from mere political change to profound institutional transformation. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that Syria can be built on the foundations of human rights, accountability, and participation, and that the time of denial and cover-up is over.
As Syrians aspire to build a just state, the first step begins with acknowledging the victims and working for them, as evidence of the state’s transformation from a hegemonic authority to a human authority.
Political Office
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