The Syrian Future Movement is following with great concern the warning issued by Human Rights Watch on Monday, June 22, 2026, regarding the escalation of retaliatory attacks and identity-based incitement in Syria, coinciding with demonstrations demanding accountability for perpetrators of crimes committed during the era of the ousted regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its statement, the organization stressed the urgent need for a legal framework that guarantees fair justice and protects the accused from “collective punishment.” It noted that the protests that took place between June 13 and 17 in several governorates, including Aleppo, Idlib, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Damascus, were accompanied by attacks targeting individuals and property based on accusations of ties to the ousted regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Syrian Future Movement appreciates this warning, it sees it as confirmation of the danger of sliding into collective revenge, which threatens civil peace and undermines the transitional justice process that the Movement has long advocated as a fundamental pillar for building a new Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement appreciates Human Rights Watch’s warning and affirms that true justice cannot be achieved through collective revenge or violence outside the framework of the law. The Syrian Future Movement also commends the organization’s clear and unequivocal stance, emphasizing that legitimate demands for justice should not be used as a pretext to target individuals based on their religion, background, or affiliations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recall the statement by Heba Zeidan, Senior Advisor in the Middle East and North Africa Division at the organization, who affirmed that “Syrians have the right to demand justice, but this should not be used as a pretext to target individuals based on their religion or background.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, we believe this position is entirely consistent with our firm belief that transitional justice must be individual and institutional, based on evidence and fair trials, not on sectarian or ethnic affiliations. Any deviation from this principle will only perpetuate the cycles of violence and hatred that Syrians have endured for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement draws attention to the documented attacks and violent protests in several areas, including attempts to storm predominantly Alawite neighborhoods in Damascus (such as Mezzeh 86 and Ash al-Warwar), and acts of vandalism and violence against individuals accused of ties to the ousted regime in Idlib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We note that these events, which resulted in injuries and property damage, constitute a serious warning of the potential for the country to descend into retaliatory chaos if demands for justice are not addressed institutionally and legally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also recall that the Syrian National Commission for Transitional Justice affirmed on June 15, 2026, that “collective punishment is incompatible with justice,” and that the Ministry of Interior announced on the same day that it was holding approximately 6,000 former military and security personnel from the Assad era, urging citizens to submit evidence through official channels rather than acting individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We emphasize that these measures, while important, remain insufficient unless accompanied by comprehensive legislative reforms and fair and public trials. Third: The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its firm positions supporting transitional justice and individual accountability, published on its official website, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth: The Syrian Future Movement presents a set of recommendations to ensure that demands for justice do not devolve into collective punishment and to solidify the path of individual and institutional accountability. Based on its national responsibility, it recommends the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates its belief that transitional justice is the only way to address past crimes and build a stable future. However, this justice must be individual and institutional, not collective and vengeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We believe that the Syrian government, the judiciary, and civil society are called upon today to work together to ensure that justice is achieved without becoming collective punishment, and that the accountability process serves as a model for the region, rather than a gateway to new cycles of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For our part, the Syrian Future Movement will remain supportive, critical, and vigilant regarding this issue, striving to build a new Syria on the foundations of justice, dignity, and the rule of law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Human Rights Watch warns against collective punishment and calls for a legal framework to protect people from unjustified reprisals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":61210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4843],"tags":[4706],"class_list":["post-65189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-office","tag-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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