Syrian parliament abolishes anti-terrorism court established by Assad
Syria’s state news channel reported that the People’s Council voted on Wednesday to abolish the Terrorism Court, established during Bashar al-Assad’s rule, and to nullify the legal effects of its rulings. This marks one of the first significant legislative steps taken by the country’s new parliament.
The Terrorism Court was established in 2012 as Assad sought to suppress the uprising against his rule. It was used to try thousands of Syrians on terrorism-related charges.
This move formalizes the court’s abolition, as Syria’s new authorities had already treated it as defunct. In June 2025, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree dismissing 67 judges who had been serving in what he then described as the “abolished Terrorism Court.”
Syria’s constitutional declaration, issued in March 2025, called for the nullification of the effects of what it described as unjust rulings issued by the court, including the return of confiscated property.
The United Nations Committee on Human Rights stated in 2024 that the 2012 law establishing the court did not provide adequate basic judicial guarantees. It expressed concerns over arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment, and the court’s independence. The committee also noted that the court was permitted to depart from ordinary procedures during prosecution and trial.
The UN Independent International Mechanism for Syria (IIM) reported in 2024 that the Terrorism Court formed part of the judicial system through which detainees held by Assad-era security services could be tried. The report documented the widespread and systematic nature of torture and ill-treatment within the state detention system.
Wednesday’s vote came during the first weeks of the first People’s Council formed since the ouster of Assad in December 2024. The council held its inaugural session in July.
This vote is among the council’s first major legislative decisions, following its initial sessions dedicated to drafting its internal rules and forming its committees. The council held a hearing this week with Education Minister Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Turkou regarding the state of schools in the country. It is scheduled to question the Energy Minister on Thursday about the sharp rise in fuel prices.
