DAMASCUS – A committee formed by Syria’s new authorities to investigate a wave of deadly violence has said the country was determined to “prevent unlawful revenge.”
A wave of violence broke out last Thursday, mainly in the Mediterranean heartland of the Alawite minority, the deadliest since longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.
Security forces and allied groups have killed at least 1,225 civilians since Thursday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.
The UN Human Rights Office said it had documented “summary executions” that appeared “to have been carried out on a sectarian basis”.
“In a number of extremely disturbing instances, entire families — including women, children and individuals hors de combat — were killed, with predominantly Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular,” it said.
At a press conference in Damascus, committee spokesman Yasser al-Farhan said: “The new Syria is determined to enshrine justice and the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, prevent unlawful revenge and guarantee that there is no impunity.”
Farhan said the committee was working on “gathering and reviewing evidence” related to the wave of violence.
He added the committee would “listen to the eyewitnesses” and establish mechanisms for people to contact the investigators, as well as gather and verify video evidence.
The findings will be submitted to the presidency and the judiciary, Farhan said.
