Doha: Syrian Minister of Justice Dr. Mazhar Al Wais affirmed that his recent visit to the State of Qatar provided an opportunity to review the trailblazing experience of commerce and investment courts in Qatar, which he described as among the unique experiences at this stage, since they constitute core pillars for an investment-attractive environment, combining credibility with swift resolution of matters and advanced administrative procedures.
According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al Wais elucidated that what he witnessed in Qatar reflects a state of overture and seriousness, with an integrated experience in place that commenced with the national initiative for judicial and legislative reform, through which all cases germane to this experience were opened.
The prospects of cooperation between the two sides are wide, and it has been agreed to intensify this cooperation and dispatch professional teams to all judicial centers to meticulously capitalize on the Qatari experience for the shared interests of the two brotherly peoples, he highlighted.
Dr. Al Wais noted the digital transformation taking place in the judicial work in Syria, emphasizing that the Syrian Ministry of Justice is working to leverage online services, something that would streamline the procedures for citizens, notwithstanding the limited potential and a plethora of challenges.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assess the digital transformation program and operationalize the online judicial services, Dr. Al Wais highlighted.
He added that the Syrian Ministry of Justice faces formidable challenges due to the resurgence of legal cases prompted by the return of refugees and citizens from abroad, an issue that has significantly strained the judiciary’s capacity, exposing infrastructural deficiencies.
In response, he added, the ministry is undertaking comprehensive efforts to restore the military judiciary, rehabilitate affected courts, and enhance the judicial workforce by expanding training programs at the Judicial Institute and processing recruitment applications, in addition to strengthening logistical and administrative support to ensure operational efficiency.
The ministry will press ahead full steam with efforts in legislative refinement, ensuring expedited adjudication of pending cases. It will roll out additional electronic case management systems to streamline judicial procedures, while doubling down on judicial transparency protocols and anti-corruption compliance mechanisms, Dr. Al Wais underlined.
He stressed that these measures will be enforced through inter-agency coordination frameworks while safeguarding judicial independence. Collectively, he said, these steps aim to build a modernized judicial institution capable of tackling current challenges head-on and enforcing rule-of-law mechanisms to guarantee justice for all citizens.
Finally, Dr. Al Wais asserted that the ongoing efforts to overhaul the judiciary in Syria, alongside leveraging the pioneering experiences such as the investment courts in Qatar, will indubitably contribute to achieving a just legal and investment climate that supports the pathway toward national recovery.
He affirmed that such measures are part of a holistic vision to lay the groundwork for the statehood of justice and institutions in the new Syria.