To what extent did Syria’s domestic legal framework on torture under the Assad regime comply with its obligations under international law, and how did the structure of its legal and political system contribute to widespread systemic torture and impunity?

This article provides a detailed analysis of Syria’s domestic legal framework to assess its substantive alignment with international obligations under international treaties. Second, it investigates how the Assad regime has systematically weakened the rule of law, embedding impunity into the judicial and political structures of the state. It further examines the UN’s response to Syria’s violations, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current enforcement strategies as well as the validity of claiming state sovereignty in cases when jus cogens standards are routinely violated. Lastly, it considers post-conflict legal reforms, including the constitutional declaration of March 2025 and the restructuring of Syria’s judicial system, evaluating whether these reforms were consistent with principles of transitional justice.