My book, titled: Undermining the Independence of the Judiciary in Syria under the Assads, Father and Son, and Route to Reform was published by Dar Al-Fikr.
The books is an attempt to deconstruct how the Syrian judiciary, over decades, transformed from an authority meant to protect rights and guarantee justice into a space permeated by the dominance of the executive branch and security apparatus. The book traces the path that entrenched this subservience through the constitutional structure, exceptional legislation, and mechanisms for managing judges’ affairs, highlighting its impact on the most basic standards of a fair trial and on the Syrian people’s right to justice, dignity, and the rule of law.
It moves from diagnosis to presenting a vision for reform that restores the judiciary’s independence, an indispensable condition for political transition, transitional justice, and national reconciliation. It proposes reform pathways that include rebuilding the Supreme Judicial Council on the foundations of independence, protecting judges from interference, and modernizing laws and procedures to align with international standards for fair trials, ultimately leading to a judiciary that regains public trust and becomes a true pillar of the rule of law in Syria.
I wouldn’t miss the chance to thank my dear friend, Professor Nizar Saghieh, for his comprehensive review of the book. Nizar is one of the foremost experts working on judicial independence in the Arab region, and his review served as a valuable assessment that greatly enriched the book. He also kindly wrote the introduction.
I must also thank the friends at Dar Al-Fikr for the speed with which they completed the printing of the book so that it would be available alongside my book about Assad’s use of chemical weapons in Dar Al-Fikr’s booth at the Damascus International Book Fair.
The book ” Undermining the Independence of the Judiciary in Syria under the Assads, Father and Son, and Route to Reform” is published
