Syrian regime president, Bashar al-Assad, has issued several decrees dismissing seven judges in different Syrian provinces since the beginning of this year.

The latest decrees were published yesterday, June 9, in the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), under number ‘120’. They included an order to enforce a dismissal punishment on two judges imposed by the Supreme Judicial Council (also chaired by al-Assad).

According to the decree, the judges Shaza Nizar Nassour, a judge in the Public Prosecution’s Court of Cassation of the third rank and third degree, and Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq al-Qutaini, a judge in the Public Prosecution’s Court of Cassation of the fourth rank and first degree, were dismissed, with the liquidation of their rights according to the current laws.

This dismissal of judges is the third of its kind since early 2024.

On June 2, al-Assad issued two decrees numbered ‘112’ and ‘113’, which included executing a dismissal punishment on two judges in the provinces of Daraa and As-Suwayda.

The decrees included an order to enforce the dismissal punishment, with the liquidation of rights for the judge at the Fourth Degree Civil Court in As-Suwayda, Ahmed Saad Eddin Bayan, of the second rank and second degree.

Also dismissed was Waseem Ghiath Anis, a judge in the Criminal Court of First Instance in the city of Izraa in Daraa, southern Syria, of the third rank and second degree.

The decrees issued in June, which included four judges, did not provide any details on the reasons or errors the dismissed judges might have committed.

Previously, on March 18, al-Assad issued similar decisions affecting three judges accused of committing serious legal violations and mistakes.

At the time, SANA reported that al-Assad issued the decrees numbered ‘73‘ and ‘74‘, enforcing the dismissal punishment imposed by the Supreme Judicial Council.

Decree ’73’ enforced the dismissal of Judge Mohamed Abdullah bin Abdullah, a consultant at the Sixth Civil Appeals Court in Aleppo Judiciary, of the excellent rank and second degree.

Decree ’74’ enforced the punishment on two other judges: Lama Maher al-Badaish, a judge in the Public Prosecution of the third rank and third degree, and Sidra Saleem Hanfi, a judge in the Public Prosecution’s Court of Cassation of the third rank and third degree.

Four punishments for judges

Decree number ’98’ of 1961 organizes the judiciary authority and the powers of the Ministry of Justice. According to the decree, four disciplinary punishments can be imposed on judges: reprimand, salary deduction, delay of promotion, and dismissal.

Article ‘106’ details the four punishments. For the reprimand punishment, the judge is notified with a letter detailing the committed violation, alerting them to avoid similar conduct. The judgment may include not recording the reprimand in their file.

The salary deduction punishment involves deducting an amount not exceeding one-tenth of the judge’s gross monthly salary for a period between one month and one year.

The delay of promotion punishment deprives the judge of promotion for a period not exceeding two years.

The dismissal punishment ends the judge’s service, with the liquidation of their rights according to the law.