Syria parliament abolishes Assad-era terrorism court and voids its rulings

Damascus, Syria. Syria’s parliament voted on Wednesday to abolish the Assad-era Counter-Terrorism Court and nullify the legal effects of its rulings, state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported.

The decision is among the first significant legislative moves by the country’s new assembly, formed after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Court established in 2012

The Counter-Terrorism Court was established in 2012 as then-President Bashar al-Assad sought to suppress an uprising against his rule. It was used to prosecute thousands of Syrians for terrorism-related offences.

The parliamentary vote formalises the court’s abolition after Syria’s new authorities had already treated it as defunct.

In June 2025, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree dismissing 67 judges who had served at what he described as the “abolished Counter-Terrorism Court”.

Legal effects of rulings

Syria’s March 2025 constitutional declaration called for abolishing the effects of rulings described as unjust, including the return of confiscated property.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee said in 2024 that the law establishing the court did not adequately provide key judicial guarantees. It raised concerns over arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment, and the court’s independence.

The committee also noted that the court was permitted to depart from ordinary procedures during prosecution and trial.

Detention system findings

The UN’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism said in a 2024 report that the Counter-Terrorism Court formed part of the judicial system through which detainees held by Assad-era security agencies could be prosecuted.

The report documented widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment across the government’s detention system.

New assembly’s early decisions

Wednesday’s vote came during the opening weeks of the first parliament formed since Assad was toppled. The chamber convened for the first time in July.

The assembly spent its initial sessions establishing internal rules and committees. It held a hearing this week with Education Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman Tarkou on the state of the country’s schools and is due to question the energy minister on Thursday over a sharp rise in fuel prices.