Syria's fragile transition tests justice after Assad's fall and civil war
A Year After Assad's Fall, Syria's Legal System Remains Unchanged
More than a year ago, Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria was overthrown. Much has changed in the country since then—not all of it for the better. But one thing has remained exactly the same: Syria's legal system. And with it, the laws enacted during nearly decades of Assad's rule.
Today, Syria is in a transitional phase. Nearly 55 years of dictatorship and almost a decade of civil war continue to weigh heavily on its people. Countless crimes were committed over these years—and nearly all went unpunished. Now, many Syrians are searching for the justice they were denied for so long.
Others seek justice for wrongs committed under the new government. While the authorities have shown some effort: Last autumn, the first trial began against members of the Syrian transitional government's armed forces, concerning the violent deaths of hundreds of Alawite men and women in March 2025. At the time, Justice Ministry spokesman Baraa Abdel Rahman called it a "milestone in strengthening the rule of law."
But can the old system truly deliver justice? In this podcast by our website's Panter Foundation, Syrian journalist Clair Akkawi discusses this question with Judge Anwar Majni, human rights activist Mariana Karkoutly, and activist Bassam Al-Ahmad. This is the second episode of the project "Her Turn – Supporting Syrian Female Journalists," which launched in April 2025. The first episode focused on reconciliation. Both episodes were moderated by our website's Middle East editor, Lisa Schneider.
Revising Laws, Adjusting Penalties
Anwar Majni, who knows the legal system from within, argues: "Under the old regime, laws primarily served to reinforce the regime's power. Now, every law must be reviewed, and penalties must be adjusted."
Mariana Karkoutly examines Syria's legal framework from a feminist perspective and demands, for instance, that the nationality law finally be reformed. Currently, only men can pass citizenship to their children.
Despite the stated will for reform, Bassam Al-Ahmad questions whether Syria is on the right path. He argues that no real institutional reform has taken place and that internal ethnic conflicts persist.
Yet he remains hopeful for this new Syria. "We have overcome dictatorship," he says. "We have left years of conflict and war behind us—and we must not squander this chance. We cannot allow ourselves to fall back under the yoke of tyranny."
This podcast is available in two versions: You can listen to it here in German or in its original Arabic version on the platform of Syrian radio stationRadio Arta(link to Facebook). The participants also regularly contribute to the column"Rubble and Dreams."**
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