The second session of the public trial of those accused of committing violations during the coastal events that took place last March was held.
On Thursday, December 18, at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo, the court gave the defendants the opportunity to present their positions before the judge, whether to defend themselves, confirm their previous statements, or provide any new information as part of their right to defense, in the presence of their private lawyers or court-appointed counsel.
This is the second session in the trial of 14 defendants accused of violations and crimes that targeted civilians and military personnel last March. The first session was also held at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo on November 18.
According to an Enab Baladi correspondent, seven defendants appeared in court today out of the 14. They face accusations of links to the former regime, or what they were described as, remnants of the former regime, over their role in the violations seen during the coastal events in Syria’s coastal region (Latakia and Tartus provinces).
The session will resume on December 22 to hear the remaining seven defendants, who belong to security forces or military factions that formed the Ministry of Defense.
Review of statements
The trial is being overseen by a judicial committee chaired by Judge Zakaria Bakkar.
The Syrian Ministry of Justice broadcast the session live on its Facebook page.
During the hearing, it reviewed all statements made by the defendants and the procedure for bringing them before the judge, in a session the ministry described as public.
The ministry also said the Aleppo Criminal Court continues to “open the door of justice” to complete prosecutions within Syria’s justice track related to the coastal events.
Representatives of human rights and international organizations attended, including bodies affiliated with the United Nations, transitional justice entities, and organizations working on justice, accountability, and transparency.
Despite the public hearing and its livestream, the Syrian Ministry of Justice had not, by the time this report was prepared, announced the session’s outcomes or any decisions that resulted from it.
It also did not clarify the subsequent judicial steps related to the progress of the trial.
The defendants who appeared today had previously been charged with carrying out attacks against government and military forces, inciting sectarian strife, and involvement in armed gangs, in connection with incidents linked to the coastal events.
Judge Zakaria Bakkar had previously said a specialized court was formed to look into the violations that occurred during the coastal events.
He said it relied on reports by the international committee and the national committee, which presented their conclusions on those events.
He noted that 14 people have been detained, including seven accused of mutiny and seven others accused of committing violations during those events.
Lawyer Abdulaziz Darwish told Enab Baladi that assigning the Aleppo Criminal Court to the case came as a result of the military court not having been fully formed.
He explained that, in principle, this type of crime falls under the jurisdiction of the military court.
However, referring it to the criminal court is a legally sound and commonly followed procedure in such cases, and does not constitute a violation of established legal rules.
A fixed approach
The head of the committee, Judge Jumaa al-Anzi, wrote in a post on X that the second session of the trials of defendants referred to the judiciary would be held in Aleppo.
This step, he said, reflects the Syrian government’s seriousness in adopting open public trials as a fixed approach, aimed at breaking the cycle of violence and impunity.
It also includes strengthening the principle of transparency, ensuring defendants’ rights from all sides, and enhancing community oversight of the judiciary’s work.
Al-Anzi said the trials would be held in the presence of UN and civil society human rights organizations.
He considered this track to be taking place while millions of Syrians await a broader launch of transitional justice.
This comes despite the relevant authorities recognizing the scale of the file, and the time and effort needed to hold thousands accountable for crimes committed during the former regime’s era.
The ultimate goal is to achieve justice and build a state governed by the rule of law, according to al-Anzi.
Referral of 563 suspects
In November, the spokesperson for the investigative committee on the coastal events, Yasser al-Farhan, said the committee referred 563 suspects to the judiciary in line with national laws and international standards.
He said the step aims to prevent those involved from evading accountability and to ensure justice for victims.
Trials begin for suspects in Syrian coastal-region violations
Second session in trial over violations during Syria’s coastal events held in Aleppo Enab Baladi.
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