Syrian fighters inspect the site of a mass grave in Najha on December 17. Thirteen years of civil war that included violent suppression and forced disappearances left a macabre legacy that the new authorities and grieving families are trying to make sense of. Reuters
Syrian fighters inspect the site of a mass grave in Najha on December 17. Thirteen years of civil war that included violent suppression and forced disappearances left a macabre legacy that the new authorities and grieving families are trying to make sense of. Reuters
Syrian fighters inspect the site of a mass grave in Najha on December 17. Thirteen years of civil war that included violent suppression and forced disappearances left a macabre legacy that the new authorities and grieving families are trying to make sense of. Reuters
Syrian fighters inspect the site of a mass grave in Najha on December 17. Thirteen years of civil war that included violent suppression and forced disappearances left a macabre legacy that the new aut


Syria's journey to justice cannot wait


  • English
  • Arabic

December 27, 2024

When a country changes government as abruptly as Syria did less than a month ago, the nation’s new authorities are invariably confronted by a formidable list of problems. The crux of the challenge often comes down to prioritisation – what requires action now, and what can be left for later?

Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, Syria’s rebel militia-turned-government, currently faces such a dilemma as unrest breaks out in different parts of the country. On Thursday, Tartus, Latakia and Jableh were the scene of angry protests after a video purporting to show an arson attack on an Alawite shrine in Aleppo was circulated online, although some claim it was footage of an old incident.

A deadlier manifestation of Syria’s many divisions took place on Tuesday when at least 14 personnel belonging to the rebel-led government were killed in a shootout in Tartus by what Interior Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman described as “remnants” of the old state loyal to Bashar Al Assad.

If these are added to Syria’s many other challenges, such as its collapsed economy, looming ownership disputes over land and property confiscated by the Assad government, continuing clashes in the north-east and what to do with thousands of ISIS prisoners being held in Al Hol camp, it is apparent that the country is in a highly volatile state. Given this, some might argue that complex, longer-term issues of justice and accountability must wait until some semblance of stability is established.

However, if Syria’s people are to begin a new chapter, then such challenges must be confronted now. Foremost among these is the appalling collection of mass graves being uncovered in different parts of the country. Thirteen years of civil war that included violent suppression and forced disappearances left a macabre legacy that the new authorities and grieving families are trying to make sense of. On Wednesday, The National published an interview with Alaa Qasar, a Syrian woman searching between hospitals and mass graves for her father, just one of more than 105,000 Syrians who remain unaccounted for after the collapse of the Assad regime on December 8.

The process of identifying the remains of thousands of murdered citizens, let alone establishing legal accountability and justice, would be a formidable task for any government. Srebrenica, Europe’s only acknowledged genocide since the Second World War, is a prime example of such a challenge. In May, the Srebrenica Memorial Centre in the Bosnian village of Potocari opened a new facility to store the remains of victims who are still unidentified, almost three decades after the massacre of 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys.

Failing to lift the veil of secrecy that covered thousands of Syrians’ fates would only prolong many families’ suffering, and shore up grievance and frustration for another generation

Nevertheless, beginning to piece together these painful accounts from the previous era would be an important step towards building firm foundations for a better Syria, one in which the rule of law is well-established. It would be a concrete sign to the country’s people that the nation is turning a corner and is robust enough to handle the challenges that truth and accountability will inevitably bring. Failing to lift the veil of secrecy that covered thousands of Syrians’ fates would only prolong many families’ suffering, and shore up grievance and frustration for another generation.

As previous conflicts have shown, it can take years to establish an accurate account of the fate of so many. The process requires substantial funding as well as considerable legal, scientific and medical expertise. Countries that say they want to see a stable and prosperous Syria can play their part in offering practical assistance that is for the long term. Syria’s array of challenges are daunting, but justice is an important priority.

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20three%20212.7kWh%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2C000bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%2C600Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20530km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh500%2C000%2B%20est%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eearly%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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RESULTS

4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)

4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

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Company%20profile
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The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre V6

Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km

Price: Dh179,999-plus

On sale: now 

The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X

Price, as tested: Dh84,000

Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: Six-speed auto

Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Updated: December 27, 2024, 3:00 AM`