The UN human rights office has called on Syria’s interim authorities to intensify efforts to tackle continuing human rights abuses targeting minority groups and individuals accused of association with the former Bashar al-Assad government. The warning comes as the country approaches the anniversary of the collapse of the Assad regime.
According to the UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheethan, interim authorities have taken some initial steps, including establishing commissions for transitional justice and missing persons, setting up investigative bodies into violence in coastal areas and Suweida, and introducing a draft transitional justice law. Trials have also begun for individuals accused of involvement in coastal violence. However, Thameen stated that these measures represent only the beginning of what is required to address the scale of the violations.
The UN reports continuing cases of arbitrary killings and abductions targeting people alleged to have ties to the Assad administration. The violations also affect minority communities, including Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Bedouins, with rising hate speech both online and offline contributing to tensions.
According to the UN, the perpetrators of these violations include interim-authority forces and their affiliates, armed groups linked to the former Assad regime, local militias, and unidentified actors. Additional reported abuses include sexual violence, arbitrary detention, destruction of homes, forced evictions, and confiscation of property.
Israeli military operations have also worsened conditions, with reports of 350 airstrikes across Syria in 2024 targeting infrastructure and weapons production sites. At least 36 civilians were killed in those strikes. In July, Israel carried out airstrikes on military targets in Damascus and Sweida, saying the operations were intended to protect the Druze community following clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Syrian authorities to confront the root causes of the violations and emphasized the need for accountability and security as essential elements for a successful political transition. He called for the protection of victims’ rights and effective remedies.
Since assuming leadership in 2024, the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa has faced multiple accusations of rights abuses. A recent UN report documented 97 enforced disappearances during the current administration. Another UN commission expressed concern in October about allegations of repeated massacres and serious violations by security forces loyal to al-Sharaa.
These findings conflict with the administration’s public commitments to democratic transition and the protection of minority groups. The escalation of hate speech has also raised concerns about the limits of free expression, particularly under international standards such as Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits advocacy of racial or religious hatred that incites discrimination or violence. The UN’s Rabat Plan of Action further clarifies the boundary between lawful expression and incitement.
