Syria: Start of Public Trials for Those Accused of Violations During Coastal Events

SadaNews - On Tuesday, the first public trial sessions began for those accused of violations during the Syrian coastal events, according to the official news agency "SANA".

The agency reported that the public trial sessions were held at the "Palace of Justice" in the city of Aleppo, northern Syria.

It added that the first session of the public trials "includes the prosecution of detainees on charges of inciting sectarian strife, theft, and assaulting internal security forces and the Syrian Arab Army".

For its part, the Syrian "News Channel" provided a video clip, mentioning that it shows "the arrival of those accused of violations in the coastal events to the judicial palace in Aleppo to start the first public trial sessions".

The channel reported from inside the courtroom that today’s sessions "start to prosecute 7 elements accused of violations on March 6 in the Syrian coast, and 7 elements from the fallen regime based on files indicating their involvement in war crimes against civilians".

It was expected that the first trial sessions would begin yesterday morning, Monday, and would be open to the media, as announced by Judge Jumaa Al-Anzi, head of the National Commission for Investigation and Fact-Finding on the Syrian coast events.

No statement has been issued by the Syrian authorities explaining the reason for the trial sessions not starting yesterday, as scheduled.

For several days in March last year, the Syrian coastal areas witnessed bloody events, as pro-regime fighters launched attacks against security forces.

Later, government forces regained control of the area after a wide operation that involved violations and killings against civilians, in addition to looting and burning properties by "non-governmental" fighters.

The new Syrian administration is working to stabilize security conditions in the country and pursue remnants of the previous regime that are causing security disturbances.

On December 8 of last year, Syrian factions established their control over the country, ending 61 years of bloodthirsty Ba'ath Party rule and 53 years of control by the Assad family.