Syrians speak: What kind of justice do they want?

Legal and political debates on transitional justice in Syria continue, but the most important question remains: What do Syrians themselves want from justice? Are courts alone enough, or are reconciliation, trust-building, and security just as important as accountability?

Justice between accountability and reconciliation

Participants in ANHA agency's opinion survey, conducted across several Syrian cities, agreed that justice cannot be achieved without accountability. However, they differed in the order of priorities.

Abdul Qader Al-Hajjo from the city of Hama and Samer Malham from Homs stressed that accountability must precede any reconciliation. Al-Hajjo believes that "reconciliation without accountability is a cover-up for crime," emphasizing that the past cannot be put behind us before the truth is revealed and wrongdoing is acknowledged. Malham likewise argues that accountability must come first, as it ensures recognition of wrongdoing and delivers justice to victims.

By contrast, Basel Shahoud from the Salamiyah countryside prioritizes national reconciliation, viewing it as the guarantor of the country's stability and the prevention of further division, while excluding major crimes from any settlement. He warned that comprehensive accountability could reopen the wounds of the past.

Meanwhile, Youssef Mohammad from Homs adopts a middle-ground position, arguing that justice requires combining accountability and reconciliation. In his view, accountability prevents the recurrence of violations, while reconciliation helps rebuild trust when it is accepted by those who have been harmed.

Trust in institutions depends on reform

The interviewees unanimously agreed that trust in the current institutions remains limited, though not impossible to restore. Abdul Qader Al-Hajjo believes that these institutions have not yet rid themselves of the roots of corruption, but says they deserve a chance if they demonstrate genuine change in their performance.

Basel Shahoud emphasized that trust will not be built through statements alone, but through tangible improvements in basic services and a decline in favoritism and extortion.

Youssef Mohammad, for his part, links trust to the existence of institutions founded on transparency, the rule of law, and accountability, standards he believes are still absent. Similarly, Samer Malham from Homs argues that strengthening transparency and accountability is the key to restoring citizens' confidence in state institutions.

What creates a sense of security?

Despite their different backgrounds, all participants associated the concept of security with the existence of a state governed by the rule of law and institutions that protect rights, although they differed in the details.

Al-Hajjo describes security as knowing that his children can sleep without being haunted by memories of war and being able to see a clear future ahead. Shahoud, on the other hand, associates security with stable living conditions, controlled prices, and a stable daily life, saying: "Security is waking up knowing that the price of bread will not suddenly rise and that your children's journey to school is safe."

In contrast, Youssef Mohammad believes that security begins with fair laws that are applied equally to everyone, freedom of expression, strong social cohesion, and economic stability. Samer Malham likewise maintains that a sense of security is achieved when citizens can express their opinions freely and trust that their rights will be protected under the rule of law and by institutions that safeguard all citizens.

These differing views reveal that Syrians do not see transitional justice merely as a process of trials. Rather, they view it as a broader path aimed at delivering justice, rebuilding trust, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring that the violations the country has endured are never repeated, laying the foundation for a state in which all citizens enjoy security and equality.

ANHA