Syria releases an officer from the Assad era... and investigates his father

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After nearly a year of investigations into accusations of serious violations, the Syrian authorities released a former Syrian officer due to the lack of evidence that required his continued detention.

The Syrian Ministry of Justice announced, in a statement, on Sunday that the investigations into First Lieutenant Ahmed Faisal Maarouf, who previously served in the forces of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, included a review of Maarouf’s movement record, confirming that what was circulated regarding him committing serious violations had not been proven, in addition to the fact that no one had filed a personal claim against him.

It also explained that the competent judiciary decided to release him, after completing the procedures and investigations and the lack of evidence that required his continued detention.

On the other hand, the Ministry confirmed the continuation of investigations and investigations into his father, Faisal Ahmed Marouf, who is still detained pending investigation, against the backdrop of official allegations and complaints related to accusations of kidnapping, disappearance, and financial extortion of the families of a number of detainees, in addition to his close relations with the security services of the former regime.

The Directorate of Internal Security in Homs Governorate, in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Branch, arrested the father and his son on October 29, 2025, during an operation that the authorities said came after field follow-up and monitoring on suspicion of their involvement in committing serious violations against civilians during the rule of the former regime.

While the Ministry of Justice stressed that “the judiciary considers transitional justice cases in accordance with the Constitutional Declaration and the standards established in international humanitarian law, and based on the evidence and evidence available in each case,” stressing “not to tolerate any person proven responsible for committing violations.”

It is noteworthy that, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, the Syrian authorities had opened investigations into violations attributed to officials and members of the former regime, within the process of transitional justice and holding those responsible accountable for crimes committed against civilians.

Investigations resulted in the referral of defendants to the judiciary and the start of public trials for a number of former officials, while last August the Fourth Criminal Court issued convictions and death sentences against Bashar al-Assad in absentia, and a number of former officials, including Maher al-Assad, the brother of the former president, former Defense Minister Fahd Jassim al-Freij, and former security official Atef Najib.