Latest news with #NoureddineAlBaba
The National
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Eight million Syrians were wanted by Assad regime for 'political reasons', new authorities say
About a third of Syria's population was wanted by the country's intelligence and security apparatus for 'political reasons' under former president Bashar Al Assad, an interior ministry spokesman for the new government has said. Noureddine Al Baba was speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Saturday at which he announced a restructuring of the interior ministry that includes renewed efforts to fight cross-border drug and people smuggling. Mr Al Baba said 'the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million'. After Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, millions of Syrians found themselves caught in the dragnet of the security services, facing prosecution, abuse or rights violations. Many were accused of taking part in or promoting demonstrations, 'undermining the prestige of the state', communicating with foreign parties or financing and supporting 'terrorism'. Hundreds of thousands were thrown into prison, where many faced torture and tens of thousands are still missing. A coalition of rebels toppled Mr Al Assad in December after five decades of his family's rule. Mr Al Baba on Saturday said the restructuring of the interior ministry included a number of new departments aimed at creating 'a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards'. They include a complaints department and a border security body in charge of Syria's land and sea frontiers that will be tasked with 'combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks'. The reforms will 'strengthen the role of the anti-drug department and further develop its importance within Syria and abroad', Mr Al Baba said. Syria has been a major exporter of the illicit stimulant Captagon, with millions of pills produced under the Assad regime and shipped to neighbouring countries. With foreign missions reopening in Syria following Mr Al Assad's ouster, another department in the reformed ministry will handle security for government facilities and embassies, Mr Al Baba added. A tourism police department will be tasked with securing tourist sites and visitors. Syria is home to important archaeological and Unesco World Heritage sites including the ancient city of Palmyra. Since taking power, the new government under President Ahmad Al Shara has been seeking to revitalise crumbling public administration. The latest move comes as Damascus aims to improve ties with western powers that have or are considering lifting sanctions, including the US. Washington formalised a decision to remove sanctions on Friday after it was announced by US President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he briefly met Mr Al Shara. The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday welcomed Washington's move, calling it 'a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country'.
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Syrian reboots interior ministry as Damascus seeks to reassure West
DAMASCUS: Syrian authorities on Saturday announced an interior ministry restructuring that includes fighting cross-border drug and people smuggling as they seek to improve ties with Western nations that have lifted sanctions. Keen to reboot and rebuild nearly 14 years after a devastating civil war broke out, the new authorities in Damascus have hailed Washington's lifting of US sanctions. The move was formalized Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's jihadist-turned-interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said the interior ministry restructure included reforms and creating 'a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards.' It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference. A border security body for Syria's land and sea frontiers will be tasked with 'combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks,' Baba said. The restructure includes 'strengthening the role of the anti-drug department and further developing its importance within Syria and abroad' after the country became a major exporter of illicit stimulant captagon, he added. Another department will handle security for government facilities and foreign missions, as embassies reopen in Syria following Bashar Assad's ouster in December. A tourism police body will secure visitors and sites as the war-torn country — home to renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites — seeks to relaunch tourism. Syria's foreign ministry welcomed Washington's lifting of sanctions, calling the move 'a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country.' Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the recent US and European Union steps to lift sanctions were 'of critical importance in efforts to bring stability and security to Syria.' The European Union announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria earlier this month. Sharaa met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday on his third visit to Turkiye since taking power on a visit to discuss 'common issues,' Syria's presidency said. Ankara is a major backer of Syria's new authorities, who are negotiating with Kurdish forces that control swathes of the northeast and that Turkiye considers 'terrorists.' A government delegation made a first visit Saturday to the notorious Al-Hol camp in the northeast that hosts families of suspected Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. Trump said he wanted to give Syria's new rulers 'a chance at greatness' after their overthrow of Assad. While in Istanbul, Sharaa met with the US ambassador to Turkiye, who doubles as Washington's Syria envoy. In a statement, Tom Barrack said: 'President Trump's goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive.' He added that it would aid Washington's 'primary objective' of ensuring the 'enduring defeat' of IS. US sanctions were first imposed on Syria in 1979 under the rule of Bashar Assad's father Hafez. They were sharply expanded after the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war. The new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments expressed reluctance, pointing to the Islamist past of leading figures. The sanctions relief extends to the new government on condition that Syria not provide safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensure security for religious and ethnic minorities, the US Treasury Department said. Concurrently, the US State Department issued a 180-day waiver for the Caesar Act to make sure that sanctions do not obstruct foreign investment in Syria. The 2020 legislation severely sanctioned any entity or company cooperating with the now ousted government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would 'facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria.' However, Rubio cautioned that Trump 'has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities.' He said lifting the sanctions aims to promote 'recovery and reconstruction efforts.' Syria's 14-year civil war killed more than half a million people and ravaged its infrastructure. The interior ministry's spokesman said around a third of the population had been under suspicion by the Assad government's feared intelligence and security services. Analysts say a full lifting of sanctions may take time, as some US restrictions are acts that need to be reversed by Congress. Syrian authorities also need to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investment.
LBCI
24-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Over 8 million Syrians were wanted by Assad intelligence, security services: Authorities
Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Saturday that more than eight million people were wanted by the intelligence and security services of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December. Baba told a press conference in Damascus that "the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million", adding that "we are talking about around a third of the Syrian people who had records and were wanted by the repressive intelligence and security agencies of the former regime." AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Over 8 Million Syrians Were Wanted by Assad Intelligence, Security Services, Say Authorities
Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Saturday that around a third of the population had been wanted by the intelligence and security services of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December. Baba told a press conference in Damascus that "the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million". "We are talking about around a third of the Syrian people who had records and were wanted by the repressive intelligence and security agencies of the former regime," he said, adding that the ministry had been working to address the issue. After Syria's civil war broke out with Assad's brutal repression of peaceful anti-government protests, millions of Syrians found themselves caught in the dragnet of the feared security services, facing prosecution, abuse and rights violations. Many faced accusations of taking part in or promoting demonstrations, "undermining the prestige of the state", communicating with foreign parties or financing and supporting "terrorism". Assad used the term "terrorism" to describe all rebels and groups opposing his rule. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians were thrown into prison, where many faced torture and tens of thousands are still missing. Many people only found out they were wanted when they were detained at security checkpoints or as they sought to leave the country, because the charges were often issued secretly. Opposition faction toppled Assad in December after five decades of his family's iron-fisted rule and nearly 14 years of brutal war that killed more than half a million people and displaced millions more. Baba's remarks came on the sidelines of an announcement of a restructuring of the interior ministry that includes creating a number of new departments. They include a complaints department and a border security body in charge of Syria's land and sea frontiers that is tasked with "combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks". A tourism police department will be tasked with securing tourist sites and visitors in the war-torn country, home to important archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage sites including the ancient city of Palmyra. Since taking power, the new administration has been seeking to revitalize crumbling public administration and facilities, and has also announced the formation of commissions for missing persons and transitional justice. Rights groups, activists and the international community have repeatedly emphasized the importance of transitional justice in the war-ravaged country.
Al Arabiya
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Over 8 mln Syrians were wanted by Assad intelligence, security services: Authorities
Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Saturday that more than eight million people were wanted by the intelligence and security services of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December.
