A New Peace Committee in Syria: Balancing Stability and Justice

A fledgling group aimed at mending Syria's fractures post-civil war is igniting discontent among supporters of the uprising against the Assad regime. Critics argue that the Committee for Civil Peace, established by the new government, prioritizes stability over accountability for past atrocities, leading to tension and calls for protests.

The Committee for Civil Peace, set up by Syria’s transitional government to foster post-war stability, is becoming a pivotal point of contention among the Syrian populace. The backlash intensified after the committee disclosed that it had released several former regime soldiers, asserting they were not involved in criminal activities, during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha earlier this month. This has sparked outrage from those who fought against the Assad government and anticipated trials for war criminals. Rami Abdelhaq, an activist from the anti-Assad movement, expressed deep disappointment, stressing that supporters of the uprising expected justice and accountability for violations of human rights, not leniency towards those associated with the former regime.

The committee was established to curb societal divisions in the aftermath of the intense violence that characterized the conflict, particularly targeting the minority Alawite community, which supported Assad and suffered heavy casualties in counterinsurgency operations. Human rights organizations documented the killing of numerous Alawite civilians by supporters of the past regime following failed military actions in coastal regions. Critics argue that without reckoning for war crimes, true peace remains an illusion in a nation ravaged by conflict and division.