Syria Marks 14 Years of Deir Ezzor Atrocities with Renewed Push for Justice

Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais has committed to pursuing accountability and reparations for the victims of the 2012 al-Joura and al-Qusour massacre in Deir Ezzor, asserting that severe crimes against civilians are not subject to statutes of limitation.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, Al-Wais stated that the release of a portion of the investigation into Daas Hassan Ali, the former head of the State Security branch in Deir Ezzor, demonstrates that serious violations against civilians cannot be erased by the passage of time.

“The rights of the victims are a responsibility we bear,” Al-Wais stated on X, noting that Syria has shifted from merely commemorating the victims’ suffering to actively pursuing accountability and reparations. “We will not rest until justice has fully run its course, the wounds of the bereaved are healed, and we build a more just and equitable future,” he added.

These remarks coincide with Syria marking the 14th anniversary of the massacre, which spanned three days starting on September 25, 2012, in the al-Joura and al-Qusour neighborhoods of Deir Ezzor.

SANA reports that forces of the former regime carried out the attacks, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties. The National Authority for Transitional Justice also commemorated the anniversary, with its head, Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, emphasizing that victims’ families are entitled to know the truth, establish responsibility, and obtain legal justice.

Abdul Latif noted that Deir Ezzor has “paid a heavy price through the blood of its people” and deserves justice that honors the memory of the victims, uncovers the truth, and establishes accountability.

The renewed attention to the massacre aligns with broader efforts by Syrian authorities to investigate alleged abuses and locate the remains of those killed during the conflict. In June 2025, a mass grave was discovered in the al-Rawwad Residential Villas Project area west of Deir Ezzor city. Civil Defense teams initiated recovery and identification efforts, while authorities noted the site’s proximity to former regime security checkpoints.

A Civil Defense source indicated to SANA that additional scattered graves and bodies may exist in the area, with investigations ongoing. SANA reported that residents of Deir Ezzor faced killings and enforced disappearances, with bodies concealed in mass graves across residential areas and other locations in the province.

Regarding the former security official, Ali was arrested in 2025 on charges including war crimes, violations against civilians, and economic crimes involving the theft and sale of oil. Investigating Judge Tawfiq al-Ali questioned him in Damascus on January 4 over charges brought by the Public Prosecution. The Justice Ministry has since released part of his testimony as investigations into the 2012 events continue.

The al-Joura and al-Qusour case represents one of the investigations being pursued as Syria’s transitional authorities work to document abuses committed during the conflict and establish responsibility for crimes against civilians. The National Authority for Transitional Justice stated that the anniversary served not only as an occasion to remember the victims but also to reaffirm their families’ rights to truth and justice under the law.

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