Redif Mustafa, a member of the National Transitional Justice Authority, confirmed that the trial session of Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun represents an important milestone in the course of the trial, due to the testimonies given by the public witnesses and the defense witnesses.
Mustafa told SANA news agency: “The session included, in one of the testimonies given by a secret witness before the court, accounts relating to allegations about financing armed groups, exploiting influence, and extorting the families of detainees, in addition to talking about the nature of the relationships that linked the accused to a number of security and military leaders in the former regime.”
He added: “These statements remain part of the evidence that is subject to the court’s assessment, along with the rest of the evidence and arguments, until it forms its judicial conviction,” stressing that “the role of the Accountability and Auditing Department is to support the accountability process by building coherent legal files based on documented evidence, testimonies and facts, in order to ensure that those responsible for serious violations are held accountable in accordance with the provisions of Syrian law and relevant international legal standards, with full respect for the guarantees of a fair trial and the rights of all parties to the case.”
Lawyer Mustafa stressed that "transitional justice is not based on impressions or mere accusations, but on legal evidence and sound judicial procedures, which constitutes the true guarantee for the fairness of victims, combating impunity, and establishing confidence in the rule of law."
It is worth noting that the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus held this morning the second session of the trial of Hassoun, who is accused of inciting violence and justifying murder, in the presence of representatives of national and international human rights organizations.
