DAMASCUS: The Syrian populace eagerly awaits justice for crimes against humanity perpetrated by officials of the toppled Baath regime, including Bashar al-Assad. These individuals are linked to various war crimes, from the deployment of chemical weapons to systemic torture and forced displacement, as reported by the United Nations and other organizations.
According to Anadolu Agency, the collapse of the Baath regime, which lasted 61 years, has brought forth new evidence that may assist in holding the perpetrators accountable. Despite comprehensive documentation, these war criminals have evaded justice for years due to vetoes by Russia and China in the UN Security Council. Anadolu has compiled profiles of key figures involved in these crimes.
Bashar al-Assad, the former leader of Syria during its civil war, approved violent crackdowns on peaceful protests and the widespread use of chemical weapons, placing him at the center of human rights abuses. In 2011, Assad branded demonstrators calling for a freer Syria as “terrorists” and unleashed security forces on them, leading to a civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Assad’s regime launched at least 217 chemical attacks, killing thousands, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR). Under Assad’s command, various types of bombs were used in attacks on civilian areas, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread destruction.
Maher al-Assad, Bashar’s brother, played a significant role in the regime’s atrocities. As a general in the Syrian army and commander of the Fourth Armored Division, Maher was integral to heavy bombardments and sieges that caused mass starvation and deaths due to a lack of medical care. Reports link Maher al-Assad to chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta and Khan Shaykhun. Beyond war crimes, Maher is accused of overseeing Syria’s Captagon drug trade.
Ali Mamlouk, the former head of the National Security Bureau, was a key figure in the regime’s intelligence operations, implicated in systematic torture and enforced disappearances. Thousands perished in detention centers due to torture or inhumane conditions under his watch. Mamlouk is on sanctions lists by the European Union and the US and faces an arrest warrant in France for torture and human rights violations.
Jamil Hassan, the former head of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate, is known for orchestrating brutal crackdowns on opposition forces. His tenure is marked by widespread torture, extrajudicial killings, and mass detentions. The US Department of Justice charged Hassan with war crimes for his role in detainee abuses.
Atef Najib, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, headed the Political Security Directorate in Daraa at the Syrian revolution’s onset. Najib is infamous for his role in the arrest and torture of children who had written anti-regime graffiti, an act that ignited protests. His orders to suppress protests and his policies of collective punishment left a legacy of brutality in Daraa.
The SNHR has documented over 16,200 individuals linked to crimes committed during Assad’s regime, including former military and security officials and regime-aligned militias. The evidence against them forms the basis of ongoing efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. For Syrians, the prospect of justice offers a glimmer of hope amidst decades of suffering and impunity.