The Syrian Ministry of Justice in Damascus held the first meeting on Saturday, August 2, of the government-formed investigation committee tasked with examining the recent violations that occurred in Suwayda Governorate, chaired by Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Wais.
The minister urged committee members to adhere to the “fundamental principles of justice” that ensure fairness for all those affected. He emphasized that the committee’s findings should serve the goal of “civil peace and restoring security and stability” for all components of Syrian society, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Following the meeting with the justice minister, committee members convened and elected Judge Hatem al-Naasan as committee head and lawyer Ammar Ezz al-Din as official spokesperson.
The ministry also designated a permanent office for the committee and agreed to open two phone lines to communicate with the people of Suwayda and receive complaints. These lines will be overseen by Judge Maysoon al-Taweel and lawyer Ammar Ezz al-Din, with the numbers to be announced soon.
In a press statement, al-Naasan stated that investigations would begin immediately with meetings with local officials in Suwayda and Daraa, in addition to listening to those affected by the recent events.
He added that the work would be divided into teams based on the expertise of committee members, and that the goal is to “fully uncover the truth and identify those responsible for the painful events as a foundation for societal peace,” emphasizing transparency and full investigative authority.
These developments come weeks after security tensions erupted in Suwayda between local armed factions and Bedouin tribes, involving intense clashes and acts of violence that impacted residential areas.
The clashes resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, as well as the displacement of thousands of civilians.
The success of the committee’s mission hinges on its ability to deliver tangible results and present them to the public. The government views the committee as a step toward de-escalation and creating an environment conducive to broader local dialogue.
The committee is expected to begin field visits in the coming days, amid calls for residents to submit testimonies and information that may aid the investigation.
Meanwhile, protests in Suwayda have rejected the committee’s work, demanding instead an investigation by an independent international body to examine violations in which government forces are also implicated.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), at least 1,013 people have been killed in Suwayda Governorate since July 13.
Among the victims were 26 children, 47 women, six medical personnel (including three women), and three media workers.
A similar committee formed after the coastal region events last March presented its findings, reporting the deaths of 1,426 people, including 90 women, most of whom were civilians. Some were former soldiers who had settled their status with the authorities. While the possibility of the presence of elements affiliated with “remnants of al-Assad forces” among the dead was not ruled out, the committee concluded that most of the killings occurred outside of or after the cessation of combat operations.
The committee identified names of individuals accused of violations in the coastal events, including 265 persons affiliated with armed outlaw groups tied to “al-Assad remnants,” and 298 individuals belonging to various military factions involved in the operation who had violated military orders and are suspected of committing abuses against civilians.
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