Mazhar Al Wais Appointed Syria's Justice Minister Amid Transition

Photo: Reuters

Syria has appointed Mazhar Al Wais as its new Justice Minister, replacing the controversial Shadi Al Waisi. This change was announced as part of the country’s new government formed on Saturday.

Shadi Al Waisi, the former Justice Minister, had a troubled past. He was a religious leader in Al Nusra Front, a group linked to Al Qaeda. In 2015, Al Waisi was accused of condemning two women to death for crimes like prostitution and adultery. These executions were filmed and shared on social media. The killings took place in Idlib, a region controlled by Al Nusra Front at the time. Before being appointed as a judge, Al Waisi was the head of general intelligence in Syria and had significant power within the group.

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The appointment of Mazhar Al Wais comes at an important time for Syria. The country recently formed a new government with 23 members, including people from different religious and ethnic groups. This new government is tasked with leading the country through a five-year transitional period, replacing the temporary government that was formed after Bashar Al Assad was removed from power in December.

Mazhar Al Wais, who was sworn in as the new Justice Minister, has promised to strengthen the rule of law and ensure the independence of the judiciary. He spoke on Saturday, saying that he would work to bring justice to all Syrians, including victims of past violence. He also promised to reform the legal system to make it fairer and more just.

Al Wais has experience in law and Islamic studies. He helped set up the Ministry of Justice in northern Syria and has been a member of Syria’s Supreme Judicial Council since 2017. In 2008, Al Wais was sentenced to six years in prison by the Assad regime and spent time in Syria’s infamous Sednaya Prison.

The announcement of the new government came just before Eid Al Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. This was an important time for Syria, as the country has been facing many challenges, including continuing attacks from Israel and a history of violent revenge killings. These killings have caused the deaths of many civilians, especially from minority groups.

This new government will have to work hard to restore peace and stability in Syria, as the country continues to recover from years of war and violence.