Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan meets with Syria’s new leadership
Khan’s visit included discussions with Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, marking a significant step toward collaboration between the ICC and the Syrian authorities.

Jan. 17, 2025
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) —Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), visited Damascus, at the invitation of the newly formed Syrian Transitional Government. The government is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Sharaa’s group, which played a pivotal role in toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, is now at the forefront of Syria’s leadership.
Khan’s visit included discussions with Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, marking a significant step toward collaboration between the ICC and the Syrian authorities.
According to a statement from the Office of the Prosecutor, the ICC aims to offer expertise and support for holding accountable those responsible for war crimes, including torture, chemical weapons attacks, and other violations of international law.
the visit aimed to discuss how the office "can offer its partnership in support of the efforts of Syrian authorities towards accountability for alleged crimes committed in the country", the statement read.
The visit may signal the beginning of a transformative period in Syria’s judicial framework, with an emphasis on accountability for crimes committed during the civil war.
Political Shift in Syria
The fall of Bashar al-Assad, after more than 13 years of repression during the Syrian Civil War, is expected to pave the way for transitional justice. The new government has pledged to prosecute officials involved in crimes such as torture and human rights abuses, rejecting any notion of amnesty for perpetrators.
While Syria has not ratified the Rome Statute and is therefore not under ICC jurisdiction, the post-Assad era presents an opportunity for re-engagement. The new authorities have expressed a desire to establish a national accountability process, which could eventually lead to Syria joining the ICC.
Challenges to Achieving Justice
Despite promising developments, significant challenges remain. International actors, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and IIIM Chair Robert Petit, have highlighted the difficulty of preserving evidence of war crimes. Families of victims are seeking documentation, physical remains, and testimonies of their disappeared relatives.
The International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), established in 2016 to collect evidence for future prosecutions, continues to face obstacles, such as securing access to detention centers and mass graves. These challenges underscore the need for robust coordination between local and international actors.
Prospects for Accountability
In December 2024, Volker Turk visited Damascus and underscored the importance of establishing a domestic legal system capable of fair trials and due process. Turk encouraged Syria to ratify the ICC’s Rome Statute, aligning with the international community’s call for justice after years of conflict.
The ICC’s collaboration with the new Syrian leadership could lead to a comprehensive legal process addressing crimes such as chemical weapons attacks, torture, and mass executions. The success of these efforts will depend on the government’s commitment to accountability and the international community’s support in building a transparent judicial framework.