The Syrian Future Movement is following with grave condemnation and concern the serious incident circulating in the city of Arbin in the Damascus countryside. According to video footage and information circulating, a grave was exhumed, the deceased’s body removed, photographed, and then handed over to his family, allegedly due to his past affiliation with or support for a particular faction during the years of conflict.
If these events are true, they constitute a grave violation of the sanctity of the dead, an assault on human dignity, and a transgression against Islamic law, Syrian law, and the principles upon which the new Syrian state should be founded.
This statement stems from the Syrian Future Movement’s commitment to the principles of the rule of law, respect for human dignity, and transitional justice, and is not intended to defend any individual or political stance.
Human dignity and the sanctity of the grave are not contingent upon a person’s political affiliation or past position; rather, they are protected by Islamic law, the law of the land, and human conscience.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that building the new Syrian state, according to the Constitutional Declaration, is based on the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and the prevention of violations of rights and freedoms.
Therefore, any attack on the sanctity of the dead or cemeteries constitutes a violation of these principles and undermines efforts to establish a state of law and institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement considers this incident a violation of Islamic law, the law of the land, and human dignity, as the sanctity of the dead is firmly established in Islamic law.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade the mutilation of the dead, and Islamic jurisprudence emphasizes the preservation of human dignity after death, prohibiting any attack on the grave or body except as permitted by Islamic law and the law of the land.
Accordingly, any attempt to justify the desecration of graves or the mutilation of the dead based on political stances or past affiliations has no basis in Islamic law or legal principles, but rather represents a violation of the principles of justice brought by Islam.
The Syrian Penal Code also criminalizes the desecration of graves or any acts of violence against them outside of legally permitted circumstances, and it stipulates appropriate penalties for such acts.
The rules of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, guarantee respect for the remains of the deceased and the preservation of cemeteries, considering this an integral part of human dignity that must be respected even during armed conflict.
A person does not lose their dignity with death, and cemeteries are not arenas for settling scores or carrying out revenge. Rather, they are places that must remain sacred, out of respect for humanity, society, and the values upon which nations are founded.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that transitional justice is not based on revenge, collective punishment, or popular judgment.
Instead, it is based on uncovering the truth, achieving justice, and ensuring accountability through the competent judiciary, while respecting the legal guarantees of all parties.
Therefore, any attack on cemeteries or tampering with the remains of the deceased constitutes a serious setback to the transitional justice process, because it reproduces the logic of vengeance and replaces the rule of law with individual reactions.
Justice cannot be achieved outside the halls of justice, and the rule of law cannot be established if individuals decide, carry out, and determine who deserves punishment.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the most dangerous aspect of this incident is that it does not only affect a specific individual, but rather the entire society.
When political affiliation or past stance becomes a justification for desecrating graves, it opens the door to an endless cycle of revenge and retaliation, threatening the civil peace that Syrians aspire to establish after years of conflict.
These practices also weaken citizens’ trust in state institutions, as they suggest that the law can be circumvented and that justice can be replaced by individual acts.
This contradicts the foundations of the modern state, which rests on the judiciary’s sole authority to adjudicate responsibilities and rights.
We in the Syrian Future Movement believe it is essential to reiterate that we did not embark on our revolution to replace one injustice with another, or to retaliate with counter-retaliation.
The Syrian who rejected the violation of human dignity yesterday cannot accept its violation today, regardless of the justification or the target. Justice is not built on revenge, nor is dignity preserved by violating the dignity of others. Rather, it is achieved through everyone’s adherence to the law, respect for the law, and the protection of inviolable rights.
The Syrian Future Movement calls upon the relevant authorities to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into this incident, to uncover the full truth, and to hold accountable, according to the law, all those proven to be involved. Furthermore, the movement demands that necessary measures be taken to protect cemeteries and prevent the recurrence of such acts.
The movement affirms that the strength of the state is not measured by its ability to punish people outside the framework of the law.
Rather, it is measured by its ability to subject everyone, individuals and institutions alike, to the rule of law.
The movement also emphasizes that the sanctity of the grave does not lapse with the fall of a regime, nor does the dignity of the deceased disappear with differing political stances. Justice does not distinguish between the graves of victors and the graves of the vanquished; it recognizes only the graves of all human beings, which must all be protected.
