A year after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, a groundbreaking cross-border investigation has shed new light on the crimes committed under his rule, the ongoing human suffering in Syria, and the challenges of achieving justice for survivors and victims’ families. The investigation, known as the Damascus Dossier, brought together more than 100 reporters from 26 newsrooms across 20 countries. Led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in collaboration with Germany’s NDR broadcaster, the project relied on an unprecedented trove of over 100,000 leaked files from Syrian intelligence and security services, revealing systematic abuse, illicit financial networks, and international attempts to hold perpetrators accountable.

The findings highlight the Assad regime’s long-standing culture of torture, surveillance, and repression. Journalists uncovered evidence of widespread civilian murders, brutal interrogations, and other forms of inhumane treatment carried out by government forces and allied militias. Beyond documenting human rights abuses, the dossier also explored the regime’s financial operations, tracing money funneled out of Syria by ruling elites, and examined the uneven response of international authorities tasked with bringing war criminals to justice.

Several European countries are actively pursuing legal action against former Syrian officials and militia members implicated in war crimes, although efforts face numerous challenges. In Belgium, for example, the federal prosecutor’s office confirmed to reporters from De Tijd, Knack, and Le Soir that 19 ongoing criminal investigations are targeting individuals suspected of violating international humanitarian law in Syria. These include both pro-Assad militia members and former fighters for the Islamic State (IS). Yet experts caution that the lack of resources for police and........

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