The National Committee to Investigate the Events of Suwayda has expanded its fieldwork across the province and surrounding areas as it works to document alleged violations stemming from unrest in July. Formed by the Ministry of Justice on July 31 under Presidential Decree No. 9 of 2025, the committee has been tasked with uncovering the circumstances behind the violence, gathering testimony, and referring individuals found responsible to the judiciary.
Committee members have visited villages in Suwayda and the Sayyida Zainab area near Damascus, meeting directly with victims, displaced families and witnesses. They also toured Damascus Central Prison, where they interviewed detainees connected to the events and assessed their humanitarian conditions. According to SANA, the committee is working with relevant authorities to address the legal status of detainees.
Principles of Independence and Transparency
Committee spokesman Ammar Izzuddin said the body has operated “since the first day after assuming its duties” with standards that emphasize impartiality, transparency, confidentiality and credibility. “The committee held meetings with many official figures, and met with many victims, their families and witnesses from all parties, while conducting inspections, disclosures and technical expertise of the crime scenes.”
He credited the Minister of Justice for facilitating the committee’s work, saying support from other state institutions will be crucial. “The success of the Committee in its tasks constitutes a basis for national reconciliation and civil peace,” Izzuddin said. The seven-member body includes judges, lawyers and a senior security official, and has pledged to deliver a final report within three months of its formation on October 31.
Previous Investigations Praised
Syrian officials have pointed to the earlier work of a similar committee investigating violence on the Syrian coast this spring. That committee received recognition from both the UN and humanitarian organizations for what they described as transparent and accurate reporting, and for its commitment to accountability. Officials say they hope the Suwayda investigation will achieve comparable results and reinforce confidence in national mechanisms.
Response to Amnesty Report
The committee’s work continues as Amnesty International released a report accusing Syrian government and affiliated forces of executing 46 Druze civilians in Suwayda. The organization based its findings on verified video evidence and called for perpetrators to face impartial judicial proceedings.
Izzuddin criticized the report as “fragmented” and argued it highlighted only one side of the violence. “The organization (Amnesty International) has only shown violations by one party and this is contrary to legal and moral responsibility,” he said in remarks reported by SANA. He added that the committee has already gathered videos and testimonies indicating violations by multiple actors.
Balancing External Pressure and National Inquiry
As the Suwayda investigation proceeds, the committee maintains that its mandate is independent and rooted in Syrian law. Officials argue that accountability can only be secured through a comprehensive domestic process, even as international groups press for broader scrutiny. Whether its final report addresses the full range of concerns will likely shape both domestic confidence and international reaction to Syria’s handling of the July violence.
