High Committee for Preserving Civil Peace: Transitional justice does not mean holding accountable everyone who served the former regime, accountability is for the major criminals.

The Higher Committee for Maintaining Civil Peace in Syria confirmed today, Tuesday, that the path to stability in the country requires objective conditions, as turbulent conditions will not provide a suitable environment for any projects aimed at national reconciliation. Committee member Hassan Soufan stated in a press conference at the Ministry of Information building that the committee monitors everything discussed in the streets, but it is necessary for a significant part of its work to be done away from the media. He explained that among the authorities requested from the President is the ability to take actions, including releasing detainees whose guilt has not been proven, in addition to interactive matters with state institutions. He said, "Transitional justice does not mean holding everyone who served the regime accountable; accountability is for the major criminals who committed serious crimes and violations." He added, "Rushing the process of transitional justice or implementing it individually will lead to chaos and portray the state as incapable of fulfilling its duties, opening the door to external interventions." Soufan also emphasized that revenge and retaliation will not lead to achieving transitional justice but rather result in evading responsibility and the escape of those responsible for committing massacres against the Syrian people. He said, "Providing security at the beginning of liberation significantly contributed to bloodshed prevention; significant achievements have been made in the field of civil peace witnessed by all." He added, "Regarding Fadi Saqr's case (leader of the so-called National Defense Forces during the rule of the ousted Assad), he was granted security by the leadership instead of being detained based on the scene's assessment, aiming to prevent bloodshed among state soldiers and in hotspots and community hubs." Soufan confirmed that achievements and measures have been made to prevent bloodshed, away from the media, sometimes refraining from discussing them to ensure their continuity. He pointed out that releasing detainees is the role of the Civil Peace Committee, while other events such as kidnappings are pursued by the state with all its capabilities to apprehend the wanted individuals and those responsible. He also considered that stability in the country cannot be achieved solely through establishing justice; there is a solid path we follow, which is societal reconciliation, and the multifaceted and immeasurable activity of the Civil Peace Committee calmly stops some seditions.