Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research

The Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research (SCLSR) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit human rights organization that focuses on Syria. According to its own description, it works to disseminate and establish principles of the Syrian people and to rebuild the legal structure of the Syrian state through the publication of research and legal studies. It also seeks to establish justice by providing support and legal assistance to victims of violations, defending detainees of opinion and conscience in Syria, and holding human rights violators accountable by preparing and submitting files to competent jurisdictions. A further aim is building the capacity of Syrian jurists. The Center describes itself as independent of any political, partisan, or religious party and states that it does not accept support that could jeopardize its objectivity and independence. It says it is guided by the International Bill of Human Rights and international humanitarian law, and that it is committed to objectivity, accuracy in evidence collection, integrity, and transparency in its legal bulletins and reports. Its target audiences include governments, decision-makers, international organizations, and the general public, with the goal of stopping violations and holding accountable those responsible in Syria. The organization publishes research and studies on topics such as transitional justice in Syria, armed-group structures, and conflict dynamics in Syrian governorates. Its website also reports on criminal proceedings against Syrian defendants in European courts, including a ruling by the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court against a Syrian defendant for crimes against humanity, and it issues press releases and annual reports listing cases it has worked on. The Center is based in Germany and maintains an Arabic, English, and German web presence. It is registered in Wikidata as a German human rights organization.

The Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research presents itself as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit rights organization concerned with Syria. Its stated mission combines legal research and documentation with practical accountability work: publishing research and legal studies, supporting victims of violations, defending detainees of opinion and conscience in Syria, and preparing and submitting files to competent jurisdictions. It also aims to build the capacity of Syrian jurists. The Center states that it is independent of any political, partisan, or religious party and does not accept support that could jeopardize its objectivity and independence. It says its work is guided by the International Bill of Human Rights and international humanitarian law, and that it is committed to objectivity, accuracy in evidence collection, integrity, and transparency in its legal bulletins and reports. It seeks to influence governments, decision-makers, international organizations, and the general public in order to stop violations and hold accountable those responsible in Syria. Over time the Center has published studies and research on topics including transitional justice in Syria, the organization of armed groups, and conflict dynamics in Syrian governorates. Its website lists publications such as "Breaking new ground: Transitional justice in Syria" (2020), "Investment in intrastate conflicts: 'Assad's Authorities' and 'ISIS' in Sweida Governorate" (2020), and "Words Against Silence" (2020). It also reports on criminal proceedings in European courts, including a statement on the ruling of the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court against a Syrian defendant for crimes against humanity (2025), and press releases on verdicts against other accused individuals. The Center issues annual reports listing the cases it has worked on in previous years. It maintains an Arabic, English, and German web presence and is based in Germany; Wikidata describes it as a German human rights organization.

• Publication of "Words Against Silence"

• Publication of "Investment in intrastate conflicts: 'Assad's Authorities' and 'ISIS' in Sweida Governorate"

• Publication of "Breaking new ground: Transitional justice in Syria"

• Publication of "Fatal Integration – Organization of General Commend and Al-Quds Brigade"

• Statement on the ruling of the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court against Syrian defendant Alaa M. for crimes against humanity

• Publication of the annual report, 2025, with a list of cases worked on during previous years

• Press release regarding the verdict against the accused, Rafiq Q.

• Publication of "Towards Transitional Justice in Syria"

Independent, non-governmental, non-profit human rights organization documenting violations in Syria and pursuing accountability through legal research and court submissions.

• Fatal Integration – Organization of General Commend and Al-Quds Brigade

• Breaking new ground: Transitional justice in Syria

• Investment in intrastate conflicts: 'Assad's Authorities' and 'ISIS' in Sweida Governorate

• Words Against Silence

• Annual report, 2025

1. 1Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research – Homesl-center.org
2. 2About US – Syrisches Zentrum für Rechtswissenschaften und Forschungsl-center.org
3. 3Wikidata: Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Researchwikidata.org