August 9 2025
The undersigned organizations call on the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, to fully and publicly release the report of the National Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding on the Coast Events (excluding the annexes). We further call on the government to share the measures it will take to hold perpetrators from all sides accountable. These steps are essential to ensuring victims’ rights to truth, recognition, justice, and reparation, both for those directly affected by violations in Syria and for society as a whole. They are also a prerequisite for preventing future abuses. Preventive measures must begin with uncovering the truth, acknowledging past violations, and committing to holding perpetrators accountable.
The full public release of the report is a cornerstone for restoring truth and rebuilding public trust, especially in the face of the extensive disinformation campaign that accompanied these violations. It also serves as an official acknowledgment of the harm inflicted upon victims and a signal of the transitional government’s commitment to legal and institutional action that ensures victims’ rights without discrimination.
Under international law, the Syrian people have the right to full and comprehensive truth. This includes knowing how, when, and why violations occurred, as well as access to information about the circumstances and actions that enabled or contributed to them, including any failure or negligence by the transitional government to prevent or respond promptly. The right to the truth also includes formal recognition of the victims and acknowledgment of the harm they endured and the experiences they lived through.
Accordingly, in addition to releasing the full report, the undersigned organizations urge the transitional government to:
• Accompany the report’s release with an official acknowledgment of its findings and a public commitment to fully and transparently implement its recommendations. This commitment should go beyond disclosure to clarify how the government will respond to the violations identified.
• Immediately begin implementing the report’s findings and recommendations as a top priority, and share comprehensive plans outlining the measures to be taken, including how all perpetrators from all sides will be brought to justice, and what institutional reforms will be enacted to prevent recurrence. The transparent development and sharing of these comprehensive plans is vital to ensuring accountability and prosecuting all those involved, especially given the transitional government’s obligation to pursue those responsible for serious violations and to guarantee non-recurrence.
• Ensure that prosecutions are effective, independent, impartial, and fair, and fully aligned with international human rights law.
The massacres in the Coast marked a turning point in Syria’s already fragile transition, deeply damaging the country’s social fabric. Today, many Syrians fear that the ongoing violence in Suwayda may prove to be an even more destructive turning point. We thus emphasize that transparency in publishing investigations and their findings is a fundamental safeguard against recurrence. A serious response to these investigations is essential to restoring the rule of law and ending impunity, paving the way toward sustainable civil peace and stability. No meaningful transition can take place amid unchecked weapons, absent state institutions, and a lack of independent judicial accountability.
Signatory Organizations:
Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP) – Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) – Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) – Women Now for Development – The Day After (TDA) – Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC) – The Syria Campaign Dawlaty – Dar Justice – Verify-Sy – Lawyers and Doctors for Human Rights (LDHR) – Civil Peace Group (Seen) – Truth and Justice Charter (Ta’afi Initiative) – Ta’azur Association – Coalition of Families of Persons kidnapped by ISIS (Massar) – Families for Freedom (FFF) – Caesar Families Association – Families of Truth and Justice