Despite the passage of more than a year since the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, 2014, a large number of former detainees continue to suffer the consequences of the "Terrorism Court" cases, precautionary seizures, and financial penalties imposed on them during the rule of the ousted regime. This situation reflects the ongoing difficulties in dismantling the administrative and judicial structures that were used as tools of repression.
Ahmed Rahban al-Rahban, from the occupied Golan Heights and residing in Daraa camp, confirmed to Zaman al-Wasl that he was recently surprised to find a precautionary seizure on his assets while attempting to sell a car, despite having been released from prison years ago and officially discharged from military service with a clearance certificate.
He explained that the Homs Finance Directorate informed him of outstanding fines registered in his name related to military ammunition—the value of which he must pay—dating back to the period when he was detained in Tadmor Military Prison.
He added that he remains under a travel ban and deprived of his civil rights, along with other former military personnel involved in similar cases, without any clear mechanism to overturn the decisions issued by the Terrorism Court or to restore the victims' legal standing.
According to al-Rahban, the fall of the regime was not accompanied by a comprehensive review of the asset freeze and fines imposed on political detainees and military defectors or those who opposed corruption. This has left thousands of cases pending within the financial and criminal records departments, leaving the victims in a state of economic and legal paralysis.
Al-Rahban called on the Ministry of Justice to urgently open an investigation into the consequences of the previous "Terrorism Courts," issue collective decisions to lift the precautionary asset freezes, cancel the fictitious fines, and restore the civil rights of those affected, while holding accountable those responsible for fabricating the security cases.
He affirmed that he possesses official documents, including security reports and investigation records preserved in the archives of the former Terrorism Court, proving the fabrication of charges against his group, in addition to fine records related to weapons depots registered under the names of detainees.
The monks concluded by saying that "overthrowing the regime is not complete by removing its symbols alone, but by dismantling its instruments," emphasizing that the continued detention, travel bans, and fines mean that the victims are still being punished, while the perpetrators move about freely.
Zaman al-Wasl
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