In the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s departure, a growing chorus of Syrians is clamoring for accountability and justice as they navigate a painful history marked by loss, trauma, and suffering. Amid the lingering effects of the Syrian civil war, Umm Mazen, whose sons fell victim to the Assad regime’s brutal policies, represents many families yearning for closure and retribution.
**A Hope for Justice in Post-Assad Syria: Families Demand Accountability**
**A Hope for Justice in Post-Assad Syria: Families Demand Accountability**
Syrians rally for justice and accountability in a new era following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, seeking closure for past atrocities.
Umm Mazen recounts how her two sons, lost in the chaos of the uprising, have become part of a tragic legacy. “For my oldest son, Mazen, I received a death certificate; for Abu Hadi, no trace remains,” she shares with an anguish that echoes the sentiment of countless families. Her third son, Ahmed, a survivor of the regime's notorious Saydnaya prison, bears the scars of torture and a relentless memory of lost siblings and justice.
The calls for retribution resound in the words of attorney Hussein Issa, who fought tirelessly against the oppressive regime. Despite enduring governmental pressure, he steadfastly advocates for justice, believing that many judges complicit in the Assad-era crimes should be expelled and face legal repercussions. His hope lies in the establishment of a functional judicial system that addresses the historical injustices wreaked upon Syrians.
Khitam Haddad, newly appointed deputy justice minister, acknowledges the daunting task ahead. While the authorities will prioritize reopening the court system, addressing the egregious crimes of the previous regime is postponed, stirring fears amongst legal professionals. “We cannot replace one form of oppression with another,” she warns, as there’s growing concern regarding the transitional authorities’ approach to justice.
As calls for accountability reverberate, many households echo a similar tale of waiting — a yearning for justice and a shift away from the oppressive frameworks of the past. However, questions linger surrounding the capability of the existing system to deliver justice, as the remnants of the oppressive Assad laws still loom over the judicial process.
Amid this challenging transition, Syrians find themselves savoring newfound freedoms in their mountains, staring back at their city’s complex history. They indulge in the possibilities that a new governmental structure might bring, breathing life into the hope for a justice system that prioritizes their long-sought accountability and ensures their suffering will not be forgotten.
The calls for retribution resound in the words of attorney Hussein Issa, who fought tirelessly against the oppressive regime. Despite enduring governmental pressure, he steadfastly advocates for justice, believing that many judges complicit in the Assad-era crimes should be expelled and face legal repercussions. His hope lies in the establishment of a functional judicial system that addresses the historical injustices wreaked upon Syrians.
Khitam Haddad, newly appointed deputy justice minister, acknowledges the daunting task ahead. While the authorities will prioritize reopening the court system, addressing the egregious crimes of the previous regime is postponed, stirring fears amongst legal professionals. “We cannot replace one form of oppression with another,” she warns, as there’s growing concern regarding the transitional authorities’ approach to justice.
As calls for accountability reverberate, many households echo a similar tale of waiting — a yearning for justice and a shift away from the oppressive frameworks of the past. However, questions linger surrounding the capability of the existing system to deliver justice, as the remnants of the oppressive Assad laws still loom over the judicial process.
Amid this challenging transition, Syrians find themselves savoring newfound freedoms in their mountains, staring back at their city’s complex history. They indulge in the possibilities that a new governmental structure might bring, breathing life into the hope for a justice system that prioritizes their long-sought accountability and ensures their suffering will not be forgotten.
