Masyaf residents demand return of Appeals Court

Residents of the Masyaf region, which includes more than 200 villages and towns west of Hama, continue to demand that the Court of Appeal be returned to its former headquarters in the Justice Palace in Masyaf, after it was moved to the Justice Palace in Hama city—a step that has increased their daily hardships and imposed significant financial costs.

The appeals courts were relocated from cities such as Salamiyah, Masyaf, and other areas to central Hama as part of a centralization policy implemented since last February. The Syrian interim government has not clarified the reasons behind this move, except stating that it falls ضمن efforts to “reactivate” the courts, according to our correspondent in the region.

Residents say the relocation has placed a heavy burden on thousands of citizens with ongoing cases, particularly in reconciliation, criminal, and civil matters, as well as building violations linked to municipal councils and fraud cases. These often require repeated visits, sometimes on a daily basis.

To reach the Justice Palace in Hama, citizens must travel distances exceeding 50 kilometers, with transportation costs reaching up to 100,000 Syrian pounds per trip. Previously, the court’s presence in Masyaf helped reduce both financial and physical strain.

Citizen Samer Masoud told our correspondent: “Before the relocation, I could reach the court in Masyaf within 15 minutes for less than 10,000 Syrian pounds. Now, every visit to the court in Hama costs me 100,000 pounds round trip. Sometimes I have to go more than once a week—this burden is beyond our capacity as ordinary citizens.”

Another resident, Ahmad al-Hassan, who is involved in a building violation case, said: “I already live in a village far from Masyaf, and now, after the court was moved to Hama, the distance has doubled. I’ve had to visit the court daily at times due to the complexity of my case, and transportation costs alone have drained my savings.”

Lawyers are also facing difficulties, as they are forced to coordinate their court visits on specific days to reduce transportation expenses, reflecting the scale of the challenge imposed by the relocation.

Lawyer Mazen Ibrahim (a pseudonym) stated: “In Masyaf, we could handle cases easily and at low cost. Now, we have to travel to Hama several times a week. We try to group as many case appointments as possible into one day to reduce financial burdens on us and our clients.”

ANHA