Syria’s parliament has voted to abolish the Counter-Terrorism Court, established in 2012 under former President Bashar al-Assad, and nullify the legal effects of its rulings. The vote took place on Wednesday and is one of the first significant legislative actions by the new assembly formed after the ousting of al-Assad. State-run Al-Ekhbariya TV reported that the court had already been treated as defunct by the new authorities.
The court was used to prosecute thousands of Syrians for terrorism-related offenses. President Ahmed al-Sharaa had previously issued a decree in June 2025 dismissing 67 judges associated with the court, which he referred to as abolished. The constitutional declaration in March 2025 also called for the annulment of what it termed unjust rulings from the court, including the return of confiscated property.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee noted in 2024 that the law establishing the court lacked adequate judicial guarantees and raised concerns regarding arbitrary detention and the court's independence. The recent vote marks a significant legislative decision following the assembly's initial sessions focused on establishing internal rules and committees.
The al-Assad family's rule ended on December 8, 2024, following a brief offensive that surprised many. In the northeastern Kurdish region, tensions have escalated as demonstrators blocked a major highway near Tal Tamr in protest against rising fuel prices, which have surged after the central government removed subsidies previously provided under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The integration of the SDF into Syria’s army, formalized in an agreement in August, has been viewed as a victory for al-Sharaa’s government. However, it has also led to discontent among Kurds, who comprised about 10 percent of Syria’s population before the civil war. The recent increase in fuel prices, with petrol rising by approximately 30 percent and diesel by 40 percent, has further fueled protests.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir is expected to face questions in parliament regarding the fuel price hikes. Additionally, students in Qamishli and Hasakah have protested a government decree that makes Kurdish an official language of instruction but limits it to three classes per week, contrasting with the Kurdish school system that previously taught primarily in Kurdish. As the new government reasserts control over the northeast, Kurdish communities express concern over the potential loss of rights gained during their period of self-rule. Al-Sharaa has promised constitutional protections for Kurdish language and political rights, although opinions on the integration deal vary among Kurdish politicians, with some viewing it as a pathway to greater rights and others seeing it as a concession to external pressures.