Mohammad al-Shaar, the former Minister of Interior, surrendered himself to the Syrian authorities today, February 4.
Al-Shaar appeared in a video recording from inside a car accompanied by three people, stating that he surrendered “voluntarily.”
In an interview with al-Hadath channel, al-Shaar mentioned that he would disclose everything he knows and answer all questions with “transparency and clarity.”
Who is Mohammad al-Shaar?
Mohammad al-Shaar is one of the most prominent security figures in Syria. He held various positions within the security apparatus, culminating in his role as Minister of Interior from 2011 to 2018, according to the Pro Justice website.
Al-Shaar was born in 1950 in the city of al-Haffah, located in the Latakia countryside. He joined the military and armed forces in 1971.
He rose through the military ranks and held several security positions, most notably serving as the head of the military security branch in Tartus, the head of the military security branch in Aleppo, the head of the 227 region branch in Damascus in 2006, and commander of the military police.
He also served in Lebanon during the period of Syrian military presence there and was one of the officials responsible for extensive repression operations, including the massacre in Bab al-Tabbaneh in Tripoli in 1986, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 700 civilians, earning him the title “The Butcher of Tripoli,” according to the Pro Justice website.
In April 2011, following weeks of popular protests, al-Shaar was appointed Minister of Interior to supervise the repression and arrests of demonstrators.
He was a member of the “crisis cell” that managed the security confrontation until the bombing of the National Security office in Damascus on July 18, 2012, which resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking regime leaders, while al-Shaar survived.
Al-Shaar is accused of involvement in various violations, including the repression of popular protests in Syria since 2011, overseeing arrests and torture within the prisons of the Ministry of Interior, coordinating with security and intelligence agencies to suppress opposition, in addition to his role in the 2008 Sednaya prison massacre.
He has been placed on Western sanctions lists since 2011 due to his role in repressing Syrians, and he is subject to US, European, British, and Canadian sanctions, which imposed a travel ban and froze his financial assets.
The General Security Directorate recently arrested Brigadier General Atef Najib, who held the position of head of the Political Security branch in Daraa. His violations against the residents during the protests that began in the governorate in 2011 sparked widespread outrage.