Asia Pacific
Syria’s new parliament, the People’s Assembly, unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday to completely abolish the “Terrorism Court” established during the rule of Bashar al-Assad.
Syria’s new parliament, the People’s Assembly, unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday to completely abolish the “Terrorism Court” established during the rule of Bashar al-Assad. This means the court, which prosecuted and sentenced people on terrorism-related charges, will no longer exist. The legal effect of all rulings issued by the court has also been revoked. According to the state television channel Al-Ikhbariya , Wednesday’s vote formally completed the process of abolishing the court. The Counter-Terrorism Court, established in 2012, was used during former President Bashar al-Assad’s rule to prosecute thousands of Syrians on terrorism-related charges. Wednesday’s vote took place during the first weeks of the first parliament formed after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. The assembly held its first session in July.
In June 2025, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued an order dismissing the 67 judges who had served at the court. At the time, he described the Counter-Terrorism Court as having already been abolished. Syria’s constitutional declaration issued in March 2025 explicitly stated that unjust rulings issued by the Terrorism Court would be annulled. It also addressed property and land that had been confiscated from people. In 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Committee said that the 2012 law under which the court was established had failed to provide people with proper justice. The committee expressed concern that people were arbitrarily arrested, subjected to torture, and tried by a court that was not independent.
The abolition of the court is one of the first major legislative decisions taken by the assembly after it established its internal rules and committees during its initial sessions. The Assad family’s 53-year rule in Syria ended on December 8, 2024. This followed a sudden 11-day offensive that shocked Syria and the wider world. It also brought an end to a repressive police state that had become known for torture and enforced disappearances.
