Lawyers' Union condemns appointment of mercenary “Abu Shaqra”

The Lawyers' Union issued a public statement regarding the appointment of Hatem Abu Shaqra, who was responsible for the assassination of Hevrin Khalaf, Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, in October 2019. He has now been appointed commander of the 86th Military Division, which is active in the regions of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasaka.

The statement was read by Bashira Jamal al-Din, co-chair of the Lawyers' Union in North and East Syria, in front of the Union’s building in the city of Hasaka in the Jazira region, in the presence of dozens of lawyers and judges.

The statement read: "We, in the Lawyers' Union of North and East Syria, strongly condemn and reject this decision, as it constitutes a direct insult to the dignity of the victims and their families, especially since the so-called Hatem Abu Shaqra is implicated in well-documented crimes, most notably the horrific assassination of the martyr Hevrin Khalaf, which remains a stain on the conscience of those who committed it and those who protect them."

The statement further added that appointing someone "classified as a war criminal and subject to U.S. sanctions" represents "a blatant affront to all human and legal values" and is evidence of "a continuing policy of impunity," which undermines all efforts toward transitional justice and national reconciliation in Syria.

The Union also pointed out that the U.S. Department of State described this appointment as "a grave professional mistake," reflecting the scale of international condemnation of the decision.

The Lawyers' Union reaffirmed its “complete social and legal rejection of appointing a figure involved in serious violations as a military leader,” and called for an immediate reversal of the decision. It also urged human rights organizations and international bodies to intervene urgently and hold all those involved in crimes against humanity in Syria accountable.

The statement concluded by affirming that the Union “will continue to raise its voice loudly against injustice” and will not remain silent in the face of attempts to “legitimize murderers,” reaffirming its commitment to defending justice and victims’ rights until a “unified, pluralistic, decentralized, and democratic Syria, governed by law and dignity,” is achieved.

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ANHA