Syrian Government Forms Commissions for Transitional Justice and Missing Persons

ARK News.. In a significant step toward addressing two of the most complex and sensitive issues of the post-Assad transitional phase, Syrian authorities have announced the formation of two national commissions: one for Transitional Justice and another for the Missing Persons.

The creation of the National Commission for Transitional Justice comes more than five months after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.

According to a presidential decree signed by Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the commission is tasked with “uncovering the truth about grave violations committed by the former regime, ensuring accountability for those responsible in coordination with relevant institutions, providing reparations to victims, and reinforcing the principles of non-repetition and national reconciliation.”

Abdel Basset Abdul Latif has been appointed as head of the commission. He has been given 30 days from the date of the announcement to form a working group and establish the internal bylaws.

In a separate decree, President al-Sharaa announced the formation of the National Commission for the Missing, with the stated goal of uncovering the fate of thousands of forcibly disappeared Syrians.

The new body, according to the decree dated Saturday, May 17, 2025, was established “out of a commitment to determine the fate of the thousands of missing persons in Syria and to deliver justice to their families.”

The commission is mandated to “investigate and reveal the fate of the missing and forcibly disappeared, document individual cases, establish a national database, and provide legal and humanitarian support to the victims’ families.”

Mohammad Ridha Khalji was appointed as head of the commission. Khalji was previously appointed in March as a member of the committee tasked with drafting a new constitutional declaration.

Both decrees stipulate that the two commissions shall operate with full legal personality and enjoy financial and administrative independence.

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