Syria’s Supreme Fatwa Council issued a landmark religious ruling Friday prohibiting revenge killings and acts of personal retaliation, calling such actions “a threat to societal stability” and urging Syrians to seek justice exclusively through the judiciary.
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment in the country’s post-conflict recovery, as Syrians grapple with the legacy of nearly 14 years of war and a wave of extrajudicial violence. In May alone, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported the killing of 157 civilians, including 20 children, in revenge-driven attacks.
In a statement issued June 6, the council warned that blood feuds, retaliatory violence and vigilante justice—often based on rumor or personal accusation—violate Islamic principles and threaten to destabilize already fragile communities. “The greatest injustice is the violation of inviolable blood, honor, and property,” the statement said, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s Farewell Pilgrimage sermon, which underscores the sanctity of life and the rule of law.
Religious Legitimacy for Legal Process
Responding to public inquiries, the council emphasized that Islam grants the oppressed the right to pursue justice, but only through “legitimate means.” It stressed that only recognized judicial authorities may enforce legal punishment. “Retaliation is only permissible for the leader or his deputy,” the council stated, adding that individual acts of vengeance are religiously prohibited and punishable under the law.
The fatwa also condemned open calls for revenge, warning that such rhetoric “fuels the fire of sedition and threatens the community and peace.” The council urged government officials to remove judges associated with the abuses of the previous regime and to accelerate the implementation of fair judicial processes to restore public trust.
International Response and Transitional Justice Efforts
The ruling received praise from abroad. US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barak called it “a great first step for the new Syrian government towards a new Syria,” in a post on the X platform. The endorsement reflects growing international attention to Syria’s efforts to address the consequences of decades of violations and abuse under the Assad regime and begin a process of accountability.
Last month, President Ahmad al-Sharaa established the National Transitional Justice Commission, led by Abdulbasset Abdulatif. The commission has 30 days to form a working group that includes victims’ representatives, legal experts and civil society actors. It aims to address past violations and ensure non-repetition, while promoting national reconciliation.
Rebuilding Through Justice Not Revenge
The council’s statement reinforced the view that justice must not be shaped by personal grievance. “Extralegal revenge sows chaos, leads to division and hostility, and destroys the foundations of civil peace,” it said.
By grounding its message in both religious doctrine and civic responsibility, Syria’s highest Islamic authority has sent a clear signal: justice must emerge through institutions, not impulses. The success of Syria’s transitional justice process may now hinge on whether that principle takes root.
