The Syrian Future Movement welcomes the news published on November 29, 2025, stating that the Ministry of Justice has issued a directive to open a legal office within Adra Central Prison to enable inmates to pursue their legal rights and file complaints. We view this step as a positive sign within the national process of reforming the judicial and penal system, while emphasizing the necessity for this initiative to be part of a comprehensive vision for building a state of law and citizenship.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that this initiative, if fully implemented, could mark the beginning of addressing past violations, guaranteeing prisoners’ rights, and restoring citizens’ trust in judicial institutions.
However, the Syrian Future Movement points out that welcoming this step must be accompanied by effective oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure that it does not become merely symbolic without real substance.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that opening the legal office represents implicit recognition of inmates’ rights to access lawyers, file complaints, receive fair trials, and be treated with dignity. These rights constitute the foundation of the rule of law and represent a first step towards restoring confidence in Syrian judicial institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that welcoming the office is contingent upon guaranteeing its independence and effectiveness, allowing local and international human rights organizations and civil society to monitor its implementation, and ensuring that complaints are handled seriously without any pressure or threats.
The Syrian Future Movement is aware of the grave violations that have occurred in Syrian prisons, including Adra Prison, as documented in previous human rights reports. The opening of the legal office does not absolve the need to address these historical issues; rather, it provides a starting point for launching investigations, holding those responsible accountable, and restoring the rights of victims.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for linking judicial reform to national reconstruction. We believe that prison reform must be part of a comprehensive project for a just and civil state that guarantees fundamental rights, the rule of law, and genuine political participation for all Syrians.
The Syrian Future Movement hopes that the opening of the legal office in Adra Central Prison will provide a real opportunity to restore respect for justice and the rule of law, and to transform prisons from instruments of oppression into institutions that respect human rights and dignity.
