Inquiry highlights concerns over detentions, missing persons and property disputes
DAMASCUS: Members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria have urged the Syrian government to strengthen protections for detainees and accelerate legal reforms, saying authorities have yet to fully deliver on commitments to uphold human rights.
Following an early July visit to Homs and Quneitra, investigators met victims, government officials and civil society representatives to assess progress on justice and accountability. While welcoming steps toward transitional justice, including trials of individuals accused of abuses during the Assad era, the commission said significant shortcomings remain in aligning Syria’s criminal code with international legal standards.
The investigators reported that many families continue searching for relatives believed to be in custody, while numerous detainees remain imprisoned for extended periods without judicial review.
Concerns over detainees and missing persons
The commission also highlighted conditions at the Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria, where more than 60 percent of detainees are children linked to families affiliated with the Islamic State group. Investigators called on foreign governments to repatriate their citizens and urged the release of individuals held arbitrarily.
Additionally, the commission sought clarification regarding approximately 3,500 Syrians, including children, reportedly transferred to Iraq earlier this year. It noted concerns that those transferred could face enforced disappearance, unfair trials and other human rights violations.
Access restrictions and accountability issues
Investigators said they were denied access to detention facilities in Raqqa and Hassakeh, limiting efforts to verify conditions and locate roughly 800 missing fighters, many reportedly captured in previous military operations.
The commission also raised concerns over obstacles preventing families, particularly those headed by women, from reclaiming property confiscated during the conflict.
Meanwhile, investigators warned about an increase in vigilante attacks in Homs against people accused of links to the former Assad government. They urged Syrian authorities to investigate all reported assaults and ensure accountability through fair judicial processes rather than extrajudicial violence.
