Formal Letter

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Syrian Arab Republic Damascus

Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro

Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

Geneva, Switzerland

Date: 8 August 2025

Subject: Response to the Commission's Most Recent Report

Your Excellency Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro,

I thank you for your letter addressed to me and trust that you have been well since we had the pleasure of welcoming you and your delegation in Damascus.

I look forward to meeting you again and continuing our constructive cooperation.

As you know-and as both the Syrian and international communities will remember-the new Syrian government took the extraordinary and historic step of not objecting to the renewal of the Commission of Inquiry's mandate at the Human Rights Council, a mandate that the former regime consistently opposed. This led, for the first time in modern Syrian history, to the unanimous adoption of the resolution, reflecting our commitment to transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with the international community.

We deeply appreciate the efforts reflected in your latest report, and take particular pride in the Commission's acknowledgment of the unprecedented and unrestricted access granted to your investigative team in March to the coastal areas affected by violence-access never before afforded to an international body in contemporary Syrian history.

We take serious note of the alleged violations committed during that period reflected in your report, which appear to be consistent with the findings summarised in the report by the Independent National Commission, who were appointed by the His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Sharaa days after the violent events in March. That report was made public in July and subjected to media scrutiny in a transparent press conference-also an unprecedented step in Syria. As you noted, these allegations remain under formal investigation, and a number of individuals have been detained as a result. This alignment underscores the importance of our efforts in building credible national institutions that gain

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the public trust, institutions that the Assad regime systematically dismantled, discredited and exploited as instruments to entrench its rule for 54 years.

In this regard, we welcome your report's reference to the measures we have taken towards accountability, in line with our international obligations as a sovereign state. These efforts reflect our determination to build institutions rooted in justice and the rule of law, after inheriting them in a state of collapse and corruption from the Assad regime.

We also welcome the continued cooperation over recent months between your Commission and the Independent National Commission, which has allowed our national body to benefit from international expertise in its difficult mission and to provide you with essential contextual explanations. This cooperation reflects the spirit of partnership the new Syria seeks to foster, while maintaining the independence of both institutions, a principle of paramount importance to the Syrian state.

We are pleased that you confirmed in your report the extent of the disinformation spread via social media during the March attacks, which significantly hindered our and the international community's ability to identify actual crimes and address them appropriately. Your acknowledgment of this challenge is an important step towards ensuring that future responses are based on documented facts rather than fabricated narratives.

We also value the report's recognition of the positive measures taken by the government at the highest levels, as well as the initiatives by members of our forces to halt violations and restore calm. These efforts reflect the Syrian government's commitment and responsibility to safeguarding and protecting all citizens.

We welcome your conclusion that there is no evidence of any government policy or directive to commit these crimes. On the contrary, you noted the issuance of clear orders to prevent violations and restore order. This conclusion stands in stark contrast to the premature findings of some human rights organisations and media outlets, which undermined investigations and contributed to either deliberate or inadvertent misinformation.

We further appreciate the report's framing of its findings within the broader context of the challenges facing Syria today: the legacy of mass atrocities committed by the former regime, the dilapidated judicial system we inherited, the attacks carried out by remnant Assad forces involving grave violations, and the immense difficulties of reforming the security and military sectors. The inclusion of these elements demonstrates a balanced and responsible approach, as well as a logical sequence of events.

We take note of your detailed recommendations and trust that they, together with those of the Independent National Commission, will serve as a roadmap for Syria's continued progress - within our capabilities and despite both internal and external challenges. As you observed, they call for expanding ongoing efforts and initiating additional measures to entrench justice, ensure accountability and prevent the recurrence of violations.

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We further note with interest that your first recommendation to the international community is to support our government in implementing the remaining recommendations and in lifting any remaining sanctions.

In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to constructive cooperation with your office and with the wider international community. We are confident that our future cooperation will remain grounded in mutual respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

May mercy be upon the martyrs of these events, condolences and patience to their families and strength to all of us in the pursuit of justice.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Minster of foreign Affairs and Expatriates

Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani

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