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Paris, 27 January 2025 – In December 2024, the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime marked a major turning point for Syria, ending decades of authoritarian rule. Against this backdrop of political transition, the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger expresses its support for the efforts of Syrian lawyers to restore the independence and legitimacy of their Bar.
Syrian lawyers recently launched a petition calling for the organisation of free and democratic elections within the bar association. This initiative is intended to oppose the continuation of appointment of a new counsel by the new authorities in power, which could be a threat to the autonomy of the profession and to the fundamental principles of justice.
The signatories of this petition, from several Syrian regions, stress the urgent need to :
- Guarantee the independence of the bar, in order to preserve its role in defending individual rights and freedoms;
- End appointments without electoral legitimacy, which risk perpetuating authoritarian practices that are incompatible with aspirations for democratic governance;
- Rapidly organise transparent elections to enable the profession to regain its place in a society based on the rule of law.
The OIAD fully supports these demands and calls on the Syrian authorities to respect the principles of freedom and justice. A free and independent legal profession is an essential pillar for any society aspiring to democracy and the protection of human rights.
The OIAD affirms its commitment to accompanying Syrian lawyers in their fight to practise their profession in a framework free from pressure, intimidation or reprisals.
