Approval of the Transitional Justice Commission Law  is the first task of the upcoming People's Assembly

The head of the National Commission for Transitional Justice, Abdelbaset Abdel Latif, confirmed that any financial settlement cannot include an exemption from accountability, during a dialogue session held by the commission in the city of Aleppo, on Monday, April 13th, with the participation of lawyers, activists, journalists and dignitaries from the city.

Abdel Latif explained that the Commission has completed the draft law regulating its work, in preparation for presenting it to the People's Assembly as soon as it convenes, pointing out that the Commission is preparing to issue its first report in the coming days, which includes the outcome of its work during the first six months since its establishment, as the report is scheduled to be submitted to President Ahmed Al-Shara, provided that periodic reports will be submitted every six months to the People's Assembly later.

He added that the draft laws on political and administrative isolation were still under discussion and would be presented to the Council when its sessions began.

Abdel Latif stressed that the trials are suspended pending the approval of transitional justice laws, explaining that these laws are specialized in holding serious crimes accountable, while other files are dealt with through the civil peace process.

He pointed out that the draft law includes a clause related to the death penalty, revealing that some countries have made recommendations to adopt a long-term prison sentence instead of the death penalty, with the aim of facilitating the procedures for the extradition of wanted persons on their territory, as many countries do not agree to the extradition of wanted persons if they are threatened with the death penalty, which may constitute an obstacle to the path of transitional justice. He pointed out that the commission does not have the authority to abolish the punishment, and that this decision belongs exclusively to the People's Assembly.

Abdel Latif called on members of the People's Assembly to put the transitional justice file at the top of their priorities as soon as the Assembly convenes and begins its discussions.

"Reparations Fund"

During the session, the Authority explained that  the "Reparation Fund" measures  are still under preparation, and that their launch is linked to a survey conducted with the victims and their families to determine the nature of the appropriate material and moral compensation, indicating that the most prominent challenges are to secure the financing of the "Reparation Fund", in light of the deteriorating economic situation and the weak public budget.

The commission also pointed out that the fund could be financed from the recovered funds from figures linked to the former regime, in addition to the "looted" funds that are expected to be recovered from figures who left the country.

Decree of Incorporation

The Transitional Justice Commission was formed by Decree No. 20 issued by President Ahmed al-Sharaa on May 17, 2025, based on the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration and the powers granted to the President of the Republic.

The decree stipulated the formation of an independent body concerned with uncovering the truth about the grave violations caused by the former regime, holding those responsible accountable in coordination with the concerned authorities, reparating the damage caused to the victims, and consolidating the principles of non-repetition and national reconciliation.

The commission has opened offices to facilitate the access of victims and submit complaints, including an office in Homs province, with plans to expand to the rest of the Syrian governorates, where it is expected to open an office in Aleppo in the coming period, according to the statements of the head of the commission during today's dialogue session.

The information indicates that the time frame for the work of the commission, which began its work on August 25, 2025 , extends from 1970, that is, from the assumption of power by former President Hafez al-Assad until the date of the fall of the regime on December 8, 2024.