Dimasheq
Radif Mustafa, Director of the Accountability and Reconciliation Department at the National Authority for Transitional Justice, announced that Major General Mohammad Al-Shaar, who held several security and sovereign positions during the rule of the former Syrian regime, is currently under detention and investigation.
Mustafa said that Al-Shaar, who headed a number of security branches before serving as Minister of Interior, is being investigated as part of accountability procedures related to files of violations committed in Syria during the period of the former regime’s rule.
The Director of the Accountability and Reconciliation Department called on anyone who claims to have been harmed by Al-Shaar, or who possesses information or documents related to alleged actions attributed to him, to approach the relevant authorities and submit their testimonies, claims, and complaints.
Mustafa explained that those affected can visit the Accountability and Reconciliation Department at the National Authority for Transitional Justice, or go to the specialized public prosecution offices for transitional justice cases, which are located in various Syrian provinces.
He stressed that submitting testimonies and complaints by victims and witnesses is part of the process of documenting violations and holding those responsible accountable, allowing the competent judicial authorities to collect information and evidence related to the open cases.
The detention and investigation of Al-Shaar comes within a broader transitional justice process in Syria, aimed at addressing files of violations and serious abuses committed over past decades, listening to victims, affected individuals, and witnesses, and paving the way for legal measures against those proven responsible.
Mohammad Al-Shaar served as Syria’s Minister of Interior for several years and previously held prominent security and military positions, making him one of the figures associated with the former regime’s security institutions over the past years.
The authority’s call for affected individuals to submit their testimonies highlights the importance of officially documenting accounts and facts, especially in cases requiring the collection of multiple testimonies and supporting evidence to determine legal responsibilities, while emphasizing that establishing liability remains the responsibility of the competent judicial authorities after completing investigations and legal procedures.
