A French court has accepted a lawsuit against Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Jolani), and several ministers, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity.
The case, filed on 11 April by French lawyer Pedro Andujar on behalf of the French-Alawite Assembly, a group representing Alawite immigrants in France, targets al-Sharaa, Defence Minister Merhef Abu Qasra, Interior Minister Enes Hattab, and Mohammed al-Jassim, commander of the 25th Division, also known as Abu Amsha. The lawsuit alleges their involvement in over 50 massacres in Syria’s coastal region, primarily targeting Alawite civilians, a minority sect to which ousted president Bashar al-Assad belongs.
Legal documents detail severe violations, including the killing of at least 2,500 civilians, mostly Alawites, though some Christian and Sunni families were also affected. The accusations include murder, rape, arson, withholding death certificates, targeting schools and private property, and forced displacement aimed at demographic and sectarian change. Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitor tracking Syria’s conflict, stated, “The evidence is ready, and the accusations are clear”. He highlighted that the massacres occurred mainly on 7 and 8 March in the coastal mountains.
The lawsuit comes amid heightened tensions in Syria following the fall of Assad’s regime in December 2024. Al-Sharaa, formerly a leader of the rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a coalition that once included al-Qaeda affiliates, was appointed interim president in January 2025. His government has faced criticism for failing to include Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic groups, particularly Alawites, who fear marginalisation under the Sunni-majority leadership.
Abdul Rahman added that similar lawsuits are being prepared by Alawite communities in Germany, Belgium and Scandinavian countries, suggesting a broader push for accountability. “This case sends a clear message that we will not accept inaction,” he said, referring to the transitional government’s justice committee, which has made no progress a month after its formation.
The case’s acceptance by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office marks a significant step, though legal proceedings may take years. France has previously prosecuted Syrian war criminals under universal jurisdiction, which allows courts to try international crimes regardless of where they occurred. The outcome could influence Syria’s fragile transition and its relations with Western nations.
