The Suwayda High Legal Committee has rejected the statement by the Syrian Transitional Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the crisis in Suwayda.
At a press conference, the Committee described the transitional government’s stance as “a clear denial of the massacres and crimes committed in Suwayda in July, and an evasion of responsibility,” and called for an international investigation.
The Committee found the Transitional Government’s statements regarding accountability under Syrian law to be “inconsistent.” It emphasized that “criminals cannot be their own judges,” and that the current judicial mechanisms are neither political nor independent.
The Suwayda Legal Committee accused the Transitional Government of being “the party obstructing efforts to come together and the primary partner in crimes committed against thousands of citizens.” It stated that the trials conducted by the transitional government would amount to “covering up the crimes.”
The Committee emphasized that the people of Suwayda have been subjected to violations of rights for years and that their right to determine their own destiny has been taken away from them. It called for the protection of this right, either through autonomous administration or through democratic elections.
The Committee called on the UN and the Security Council to reject the measures imposed on the people of Suwayda.
Stating that the events of July were not as described by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but rather planned crimes against humanity, the Committee called for “a transparent international investigation, the perpetrators to be held accountable, and the rights of the people of Suwayda to be protected.”