Reporting by Tareq Haj Bakri
(Zaman Al Wasl)- The first official court based on specific legal rules has been established in the city of Jarablus in northern of Syria after mutual agreement and coordination among all military factions and civil forces.
Judge Abdul-Hai al-Taweel, the first Attorney General of Jarablus court talked to Zaman al-Wasl about steps taken to reach the final stage of forming an organized court basing on international laws and regulations.
The judge explained that forming the court was not an easy task and needed agreement among all forces within the Euphrates Shield area. He stressed that implementing justice would need concert efforts of all community, besides strong coordination among the administrative sector, military, and civil society.
Al-Taweel added that forming the court was preceded by intensive meetings among commanders of military factions, law experts, internal security and local councils, besides civil organizations and other revolutionary activities in the area, with complete cooperation with the Turkish side that provided the logistic support and facilitated transportation and safe movement and provided needed equipment.
The Attorney General confirmed to Zaman al-Wasl that judges were chosen carefully from defected judges of the Syrian regime, taking into account consensus of all stakeholders, the provisions of the Syrian Judicial Authority Law, and after deep evaluation and assessment.
He confirmed that the court is completely independent and there is no outside control on it, where judges’ conscience and honesty are the guarantees for people to be treated fairly.
The Councillor explained that court relies on general principles of law, as the litigation passes through two stages of open court sessions, besides that, all people either individuals or groups have the right to defend themselves, added to that, the court implement the international criteria for dealing with lawsuits, and decisions are reached to after fulfilling all the procedure required by law of the Syrian Arab Republic.
In regard to the structure of the court, the Attorney General said: "The judiciary in judicial of Jarablus consists of the prosecution service which is headed by the Attorney General with help of many assistants. Besides the Appeal Court, the Criminal Court, and judges of the individual which are responsible for cases of civil matters, crimes and Sharea court. Added to that investigation Magistrates, and head of civil Execution. The General Prosecution is connected to many supportive departments like: Forensic Medicine, Department of notary, the judiciary police, and the Department of bailiffs.
The Judge drew attention that the court would apply all the procedural laws and the law of evidence same as the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, provided it would not contradict with goals of the Syrian revolutions. Moreover, the court will adopt the mechanisms followed in reporting and enforcement of judgments, as well as all the procedures applied by courts normally, which were in place at the judicial of Jarablus, the same mechanisms that are applied in Syrian courts since the independence.
The role of the Public Prosecution headed by the judge Abdul-Hai al-Taweel is to ensure correct implementation of law and justice, it oversees all of the procedures followed in reporting and implementation, besides the work of judicial assistants, added to productive cooperation with the head of appeal court.
In regard to executing of court orders, the judge explained that local police form the main executive force responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the judicial authorities, where there are more than 300 policemen, and a number of officers who do their jobs as mentioned by law, as their duties are to carry out orders issued by the public prosecutor and courts, according to legal standards and criteria known around the world.
Al taweel confirmed that the police are securing the courthouse around the clock, and carry out all instructions and orders issued in this regard. They also engaged in their work to investigate complaints referred to them by the public prosecution, added to the implementation of the tasks entrusted to them by the Criminal law and police service system.
The judge expressed his confidence in the victory of the Syrian revolution, but victory needs bases, and law and justice are the main components, as people need to regain trust in court and justice to feel safe about their lives and properties under law, besides their feeling that they can find a place to regain their right.
“We have big responsibilities and our task is not that easy, we need concrete effort and strong cooperation with the whole community, besides close coordination between the administration and the judiciary and the police to serve justice”, the Attorney General explained.
In the end, al-Taweel expressed that this step is the first in the victory of the revolution, and a proof of the ability of Syrian people to achieve goals of their revolution for dignity and freedom.
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