Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fadel Abdul Ghany said the government has the ability to “pursue and detain those implicated in rights abuses as a preparatory step toward accountability.”
He cautioned against misconceptions about launching transitional justice efforts without adequate planning, saying, “One of the key mistakes made recently was the demand to begin the transitional justice process immediately, without first identifying the necessary procedural steps to ensure the process is independent from the executive branch and inclusive of all segments of society.”
To guarantee such independence, Abdul Ghany said the Transitional Justice Commission must be established by a legislative body, with clearly defined standards for appointing competent and impartial members.
He added that the commission must operate under the judicial system, which itself must be independent. “This requires time,” he said, “because it involves setting clear criteria for forming a Supreme Judicial Council and a Constitutional Court that are completely independent from the executive authority.”