Sun Nov 30 03:11:55 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article based on it:
Summary:
A year after the fall of President Assad’s government in Syria to an Islamist alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard reports mixed progress. While the new authorities, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have initiated legal reforms, transitional justice efforts, and welcomed international observers, democracy is still lacking, and sectarian violence persists. Callamard urges the international community to provide more support for these fledgling reforms, particularly regarding evidence gathering and prosecutions related to past atrocities, warning that the current progress may not be sustainable without it. She criticizes the lack of international involvement compared to situations like Ukraine. The recent parliamentary elections, held last month, are also viewed with skepticism due to the indirect method of electing representatives.
News Article:
Syria: Reform Efforts Stalled One Year After Assad’s Fall, Amnesty Warns
Beirut – November 30, 2025 – One year after the ouster of President Bashar Assad’s regime by an Islamist alliance, Syria’s path toward reform remains uncertain, according to Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.
In a statement released Saturday, Callamard, following a visit to Damascus, acknowledged positive steps taken by the new authorities under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, including legal reform plans, the establishment of transitional justice committees, and increased access for international rights groups. However, she cautioned that these changes “are not very deep” and that democracy remains elusive.
“All of those things are very good signs but they are not very deep” Ms. Callamard said.
“All of those things are very good signs but they are not very deep,” Ms. Callamard said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Her concerns are further amplified by persistent reports of sectarian violence targeting minorities, despite the government’s stated commitment to reconciliation. Callamard noted the formation of committees investigating atrocities against the Druze community and the ongoing trials related to violence along the coast. She also highlighted the detention of numerous officials from the Assad era, awaiting trial for human rights violations.
The Secretary-General specifically called on the international community to increase its support for transitional justice efforts in Syria, particularly in providing expertise and resources for evidence gathering and prosecutions of past crimes. She contrasted the situation with Ukraine, where significant international assistance has been provided.
“We really need to see the international community doing a bit more of a leap of faith, hearing the cries for change of the Syrian people,” Ms. Callamard said.
Concerns were also raised about the recent parliamentary elections, where two-thirds of the seats were elected through province-based electoral colleges, with seats distributed by population, while one-third will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa.
Callamard warned that without greater international engagement, the nascent reforms in Syria are at risk of failing. “Without that support, I don’t know whether what’s happening right now will be sustainable,” she concluded.
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