Syrian parliament votes to abolish Assad-era terrorism court

Syria’s parliament has voted to abolish the Counter-Terrorism Court established during the Bashar al-Assad era and to nullify the legal effects of its previous rulings. This decision marks one of the first major legislative actions by the new assembly formed after the fall of the Assad government in December 2024.

Established in 2012, the court was used to prosecute thousands of individuals for terrorism-related offenses during the uprising against Assad's rule. The move formalizes the court's status as defunct, following a June 2025 decree by President Ahmed al-Sharaa that dismissed 67 judges associated with the body. The decision also aligns with a March 2025 constitutional declaration aimed at overturning unjust rulings and returning confiscated property.

Prior to its abolition, the United Nations Human Rights Committee had raised concerns regarding the court's independence and its failure to provide essential judicial guarantees. Reports from the U.N.’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism documented that the court was part of a system involving widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of detainees.