On Thursday, Amnesty International called upon Syria's new leadership to offer crucial support to individuals who were detained and tortured in military prisons during the previous regime. These survivors endure profound mental and physical scars, yet receive minimal assistance to cope with their traumatic experiences.

Bissan Faikh from Amnesty International addressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “For years the stories of torture, enforced disappearances and mass hangings in secret in Syria’s detention centers made the blood run cold... The Syrian government is struggling with a myriad of economic and political challenges, but it must still, without any delay, ensure that all those suspected of criminal responsibility for torture and other international crimes are brought to justice in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts.”

The Assad regime, which governed from 2000 until its collapse in December 2024, was notorious for its harsh crackdown on dissent, particularly during and after the Arab Spring uprising in 2011. These actions often resulted in torture, arbitrary detentions, and disappearances.

The overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad by the Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement marked a turning point, and since March 29, 2025, a new government has taken steps to reform. This includes a constitutional declaration that bans torture, the shutting down of notorious detention facilities, and the establishment of a Transitional Justice Commission aimed at aiding survivors and ensuring accountability for past abuses. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has praised these initiatives as “integral for building a better future for all Syrians.”

However, the path to recovery is threatened by recent cuts in foreign aid, which have strained the ability of healthcare and humanitarian organizations to operate effectively in the region.

Amnesty International’s plea aligns with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on June 26. This day emphasizes the global commitment to end torture and improve support for those who have suffered under such conditions, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced rehabilitation services and justice for survivors.

The call for action not only seeks to address the immediate needs of torture victims but also to foster a broader environment of accountability and healing in a nation striving to overcome its troubled past.