Syria Prepares War Crimes Case Against Former Militia Commander Fadi Saqr Over Tadamon Massacre

Key facts

• Fadi Saqr, former commander of the National Defence Forces (NDF), faces accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes for the 2013 Tadamon massacre.
• The Tadamon massacre resulted in the documented deaths of at least 288 civilians, including twelve children, who were blindfolded, marched into a pit, and executed.
• Amjad Youssef, a former intelligence officer and key perpetrator, was arrested last week; videos showed him executing civilians and burning corpses.
• Zahra al-Barazi, deputy chair of the National Commission for Transitional Justice, stated there is 'absolutely enough evidence' against Saqr.
• Saqr has denied responsibility, claiming he learned of the massacre through the media and trusts the judicial process.
• The NDF participated in atrocities throughout 2013 and beyond, according to academic Uğur Ümit Üngör, who reviewed leaked videos.

A Shift From Collaboration to Accountability

Syria's transitional justice commission is preparing a war crimes case against Fadi Saqr, a former militia commander accused of orchestrating the mass killing of civilians in the Tadamon neighborhood of Damascus. The move marks a dramatic reversal for the post-Assad government, which had initially collaborated with Saqr on security files after Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024. Zahra al-Barazi, deputy chair of the National Commission for Transitional Justice and an adviser in Syria’s foreign ministry, confirmed that the commission is working with victims to build a case. 'He was useful for certain reasons and he’s no longer useful. No one is above the law,' she said. The case represents a critical test for Syria's ability to establish transitional justice after more than a decade of war that left hundreds of thousands dead. Experts argue that a credible process could help stem intercommunal violence, which has persisted since Assad's fall.

The Tadamon Massacre and Saqr's Role

The Tadamon massacre, which occurred in 2013, saw the systematic execution of at least 288 civilians, including twelve children. Victims were blindfolded, forced to run forward while being shot at, pushed into a pit, and their corpses burned. Videos leaked from the laptop of former intelligence officer Amjad Youssef documented the killings. While Youssef has become notorious as the physical executioner, residents and activists insist that the scale of the massacre required institutional coordination. Ahmed al-Homsi, an activist with the Tadamon Coordination Committee, said: 'Amjad was just a foot soldier compared to Fadi Saqr. In Tadamon, nothing happened without orders from Fadi Saqr.' Saqr commanded the National Defence Forces (NDF), a pro-government militia that operated with impunity during the civil war. According to academic Uğur Ümit Üngör, who obtained the videos, the NDF participated in the atrocities, and Saqr was part of the chain of command.

Saqr's Denial and the Evidence Against Him

Saqr has denied responsibility for the massacres, telling the Guardian that he 'only learned of the massacre through the media' and that he 'trusted the judicial process.' He added: 'Anyone proven to have committed crimes against humanity must be punished.' However, the Guardian reviewed unpublished videos showing additional killings carried out by Youssef and NDF personnel in October 2013, four months into Saqr's tenure as NDF commander in Damascus. Saqr claimed he assumed command in June 2013, two months after the public footage of Youssef's executions was recorded. Al-Barazi stated that the commission is working with organizations that have documented extensive evidence. 'There is absolutely enough evidence against Saqr,' she said.

The Arrest of Amjad Youssef as a Catalyst

The push to prosecute Saqr gained momentum after the arrest of Amjad Youssef last week. Youssef, a former intelligence officer, was the main perpetrator captured on video executing civilians and burning their corpses. His arrest sparked celebrations in Tadamon, where residents called for Saqr to be detained. The videos, which were leaked out of the country and published in part by the Guardian in 2022, showed Youssef ordering blindfolded civilians to run forward while he shot at them. The footage documented the killing of nearly 300 civilians by regime forces. While Youssef's arrest was a milestone, activists emphasize that he was just one of many perpetrators. 'Amjad was just a foot soldier compared to Fadi Saqr,' said Ahmed al-Homsi.

Transitional Justice and the Road Ahead

The case against Saqr is being prepared by the National Commission for Transitional Justice, an independent body appointed by the Syrian government. The commission will refer its findings to the Syrian judiciary, which will decide whether to pursue the case. If judicial proceedings move forward, they would be an important milestone for Syria, which has struggled to establish accountability after years of war. Experts say a proper transitional justice process could help prevent further intercommunal violence, which has included sectarian massacres since Assad's fall. Al-Barazi emphasized the commission's independence: 'No one is above the law.' The outcome of the case will be closely watched as a signal of Syria's commitment to justice.

The bottom line

• Syria's National Commission for Transitional Justice is building a war crimes case against Fadi Saqr for his alleged role in the 2013 Tadamon massacre that killed at least 288 civilians.
• The case follows the arrest of Amjad Youssef, a former intelligence officer whose leaked videos documented executions and became key evidence.
• Saqr, former commander of the NDF militia, denies involvement, but evidence shows NDF participation in the killings during his tenure.
• The post-Assad government initially collaborated with Saqr on security files but now faces public pressure to pursue accountability.
• A successful prosecution could help stem intercommunal violence and establish a precedent for transitional justice in Syria.