The Syrian Future Movement is following with deep concern the statements issued by the Governor of Damascus on October 20, 2025, in which he confirmed that the governorate lacks executive powers regarding Legislative Decree No. 66 of 2012, and that the fate of this decree is linked to a presidential decree. This statement, although belated, reveals the depth of the administrative and legal crisis that has accompanied this decree since its issuance. It confirms what we have repeatedly warned about regarding the centralization of decision-making and the absence of justice in the management of citizens’ affairs.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that Decree 66 was issued amid the exceptional circumstances the country is experiencing. It was supposed to be a step toward fair urban planning and the rehabilitation of informal settlements in Damascus. However, its cunning implementation by the defunct regime of Bashar al-Assad, as evidenced by the facts, led to the displacement of thousands of citizens, the confiscation of their property without fair compensation, and the transformation of their areas into investment projects that serve only a limited group of influential individuals.
The Syrian Future Movement, looking to the next phase from a comprehensive national perspective, emphasizes the following:
First:
Any law issued during the era of the former regime, including Decree 66, must be subject to a comprehensive legal review within the framework of transitional justice to determine its compatibility with human rights and the Syrian Constitution.
Second:
Citizens’ rights to property and housing are not subject to the statute of limitations or a change of power. They must be restored to their rightful owners through transparent legal mechanisms, including fair compensation, resettlement, and accountability for any violations that occurred.
Third:
Syria’s future cannot be built on the ruins of injustice, but rather on the foundations of justice and popular participation. Urban planning projects must be part of a comprehensive national vision, not tools for excluding marginalized groups or for shaping a suspicious demographic landscape.
Fourth:
We call for the formation of an independent national committee to review Decree 66 and all real estate and regulatory legislation issued during the era of the former regime. This committee should include representatives of affected populations, legal experts, and human rights organizations.
Fifth:
We affirm that justice is a course correction, and that building a new Syria requires honesty with the past, reconciliation with the people, and fair accountability for all those who have squandered rights or tampered with people’s fates.
Finally, the Syrian Future Movement stands with every Syrian citizen whose rights have been denied, and renews its commitment to building a state of law that puts people first and restores dignity to all whose voices were silenced during years of injustice.
