Syria's New Parliament formally abolishes Assad-era Counter-Terrorism Court
Syria's parliament voted to eliminate the 2012 Counter-Terrorism Court and erase its past rulings.
In a session early this week, Syria’s newly formed parliament passed a measure to abolish the Counter-Terrorism Court that was established in 2012 by then-President Bashar al-Assad to quell the uprising. The legislation also nullifies all legal effects of the court’s past judgments, including the seizure of property. The move formalizes a June 2025 decree by President Ahmed al-Sharaa that removed 67 judges from the now-defunct tribunal, and aligns with a March 2025 constitutional declaration calling for the reversal of “unjust” rulings.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee had earlier condemned the court’s 2012 law for lacking due-process guarantees and facilitating arbitrary detention and torture, a view echoed by the UN’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism. This vote is among the first substantive actions of the parliament that first met in July, after spending initial sessions setting up its rules and committees. Lawmakers also recently heard from Education Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman Tarkou on school conditions and plan to question the energy minister about rising fuel prices.
