The Syrian Ministry of Interior and local security commands are expanding reform measures aimed at increasing accountability and restoring public confidence in security institutions. These steps come as the government faces a parallel challenge: the spread of fabricated stories on social media targeting the reputation of Syrian security forces.
In recent weeks, the Internal Security Command in Latakia announced the opening of a new office to receive public complaints about the conduct of security personnel. Brig. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Ahmad, commander of the Internal Security Forces in the governorate, said the office would begin operations the week of October 19 as “an official body designated to receive comments and complaints” from citizens.
“This step is consistent with the Ministry of Interior’s directives to enhance trust between citizens and the security establishment,” Ahmad said in a statement published by the Latakia Governorate. He emphasized that cooperation between civilians and law enforcement “enhances the reform process and strengthens bridges of trust.”
The ministry opened its first citizen complaints department in Damascus on June 15. The office, located behind the old ministry building in the Marjeh neighborhood, serves as a model for four additional branches planned in Aleppo, Latakia, Homs and Deir Ezzor. According to the ministry’s media office, the departments will “receive and process complaints filed against any security or police officer who exceeds their authority or violates the law,” ensuring accountability within the institution.
Combating Falsehoods and Online Incitement
While these reforms take shape, the government continues to confront misinformation campaigns that seek to discredit the security establishment.
A recent example involved false claims circulated by social media pages loyal to the defunct Assad regime, alleging that a man named “Azzam al-Ahmad” was killed by General Security forces in Latakia. The photo used in the posts was actually of Azzam Imad al-Abdo, a Syrian national residing in Germany since 2016.
Abdo appeared in a video on his official Facebook page denying the allegations and confirming he had never lived in or visited Latakia. “I call on everyone to be accurate in reporting news and to avoid incitement and spreading discord,” he told Syria TV. Following his statement, several pages began deleting the false reports.
Reform Amid Calls for Protection of Civilians
Reform efforts align with recommendations from the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), which urged the government to strengthen security institutions and ensure accountability following recent civilian killings by unidentified gunmen. The network’s report emphasized “the urgent need to reform security institutions and strengthen mechanisms for respecting fundamental rights in accordance with international human rights law.”
As Syria navigates a complex post-conflict environment, authorities face the dual challenge of enforcing reforms while countering the spread of disinformation undermining both institutional credibility and public stability. The Ministry of Interior insists that the current reform drive is part of a broader national effort to “protect rights, ensure security and stability, and safeguard the dignity of citizens under the rule of law and institutions.”
