Syria’s justice in absentia

With perpetrators in exile, closure is out of reach. As Syria’s new authorities seek to hold figures of the former regime accountable, questions remain over the fate of Bashar al-Assad. The former president and members of his inner circle were granted asylum in Russia after a rebel offensive drove him from power in 2024. The transition ushered in a new chapter for Syria, raising hopes for justice, after decades of repression. In this episode, we assess the obstacles standing in the way of accountability, justice and closure. Can victims of Assad’s brutal reign find redress when some of the regime’s most notorious figures remain beyond the reach of Syrian courts?

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Contributors: Tess Mallinder Heron, Clare Denning, Feras Kilani, Amalia Zatari

Producer: Clare Denning, Tess Mallinder Heron, Kriszta Satori

Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg

Music: Pete Cunningham