The Syrian Future Movement followed with great interest the news published by the Syrian Ministry of Justice on April 19, 2026, regarding the issuance of Circular No. (18), which aims to prevent the smuggling of assets belonging to figures of the former regime.
This measure, which obligates judges to conduct field inspections and question occupants to address sham sales, is considered a crucial executive step in protecting public funds and strengthening the principle of accountability.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that this circular constitutes a positive legal development, as it closes a dangerous loophole previously exploited by cronies of the former regime to smuggle their properties through sham sales, thus guaranteeing the rights of the state and those affected to fair compensation.
We also see it as a practical embodiment of the principle of protecting public funds, which we have consistently defended on all our platforms.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates this step, which complements the judicial and security measures taken against figures of the former regime. We previously welcomed this when prominent figures involved in drug trafficking networks were arrested, emphasizing at the time that these prosecutions should not stop there, but should extend to all those wanted for illicit enrichment, with the announcement of comprehensive red lists to ensure they do not escape punishment.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its firm positions on this matter, which it has published on its official website, most notably:
- “Statement of the Committee for Combating Illicit Enrichment” (dated January 16, 2026): In this statement, we reaffirmed that financial settlements should be a tool for recovering looted wealth, not a substitute for criminal accountability or transitional justice, and we warned against the dangers of re-establishing the influence of corrupt figures from the former regime.
- The study “Challenges of the Post-Assad Era and State-Building Mechanisms” (dated March 14, 2026) analyzed how the intelligence services and the Ba’ath Party created a political culture based on nepotism and corruption, emphasizing that dismantling this legacy is a fundamental challenge in the transitional phase.
- The paper “Corruption and Nepotism in Syria” (dated November 10, 2024) presented the philosophical, political, and economic dimensions of corruption, and how it serves as a tool to reinforce authoritarianism and obstruct reform, highlighting the importance of measures like this circular to eradicate it.
The Syrian Future Movement views Circular No. 18 as a necessary procedural tool, but only a first step in a broader legal and societal battle to recover looted funds and build a state of law.
To ensure the success of this path and achieve the desired transitional justice, we recommend the following:
- Working to issue similar legislation covering all types of movable and immovable property, including financial assets and bank accounts, to prevent their smuggling in any form.
- The immediate publication of comprehensive lists of individuals and companies involved in corruption, and the subjection of asset recovery mechanisms to periodic external audits by impartial international bodies.
- Ensuring that asset recovery processes are an integral part of a comprehensive national transitional justice program, including reparations for victims of the former regime, and supporting a national compensation fund financed by recovered assets.
- Providing the necessary support and training to judges and relevant authorities to enable them to implement the recovery mechanisms effectively and protecting them from any political or security pressures.
The Syrian Future Movement, in issuing this statement, reaffirms its commitment to supporting any serious step aimed at dismantling the corruption system and restoring rights to their rightful owners, so that the new Syria can begin the phase of building the state on the foundations of integrity, justice, and equal citizenship.
