In Syria, any selective justice is emasculated justice!

The march to the slaughter had been filmed: it is not every day that 288 civilians, including 12 children, are massacred. The scene unfolded in the southern suburbs of Damascus, in the district known as Tadamun — and “by the book.” We are in 2013. More than 24 videos captured scenes of chilling horror, including the following: pro-government militiamen lead civilians, blindfolded and with their hands tied behind their backs, to the edge of a trench; they shove them in before opening fire indiscriminately to kill them. The bodies, we are told, were then burned and buried with a bulldozer to erase all traces. As the ultimate abomination, these “exploits” of the Assad dynasty were filmed in detail by the executioners themselves. By a twist of fate, this incriminating footage began circulating widely on social media from 2022 onward and became emblematic of the regime’s brutality. A piece of evidence showing one Amjad Youssef — the main star of this horror film — calmly dispensing death!

Selective justice is not justice for all !

This low-ranking Syrian operative was arrested by Syrian authorities at the end of last April, and one can imagine the jubilation that swept through the victims’ relatives and the population at large upon hearing of his capture. Yet, when he appeared again on screen during a broadcast aired by the Syrian Ministry of the Interior, he delivered rather astonishing confessions: he took full responsibility and claimed to have acted alone, whereas everyone expected him to implicate his superiors in order to save himself.

It then became clear to all that this was a forced confession intended to shield and exonerate certain figures of the fallen regime who had allegedly switched sides. The public began to wonder whether the current government had struck unspeakable deals with these renegades, whose names are already circulating discreetly. It was suggested that this was probably done for security reasons and to ensure stability and calm in certain regions of the country. But that was not all. Malicious tongues also insinuated that bribes had been paid to officials within the security apparatus (1). This led a researcher at the Conflict Studies Center of Utrecht University to remark: “We have moved from transitional justice to selective and cosmetic justice” (2). Indeed, a justice system that focuses on certain culprits rather than others cannot guarantee transparency.

Acting on his own initiative?

At the beginning of this month of May, another sinister figure — this time a general — was arrested: Khardal Dayoub had been implicated in the August 2013 chemical weapons attack on Eastern Ghouta. The operation left around 1,500 victims, including more than 400 children. Who could forget the sight of corpses with foam at their mouths?

More than ever, accountability is essential: the Syrian people have the right to the truth. And let no one come onto national television to tell us that this general, in a moment of poor judgment, acted on his own initiative!

1. Michael Safi & Melvyn Ingleby, “Syria arrests suspected leader of Tadamon massacre”, The Guardian, April 24, 2026. 

2. Melvyn Ingleby & William Christou, “Security or justice? Syria faces post-Assad reckoning after string of arrests”, The Guardian, May 4, 2026.