Damascus, Feb 4, (dpa/GNA) – Former Syrian interior minister, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaar, a prominent figure in the ousted al-Assad regime, has turned himself in to the country’s new authorities, local media and activists reported on Tuesday.
Images broadcast on Syrian television, showed al-Shaar in custody, while an image circulating on social media depicted him sitting in a security forces vehicle following his surrender.
An official for the transitional government, confirmed al-Shaar had been “handed over” to the authorities, saying his “dignity” had been respected in the process, according to a video broadcast on television.
Al-Shaar later gave a statement to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya channel, confirming that he had voluntarily turned himself in.
He distanced himself from allegations of wrongdoing while in charge of the country’s Interior Ministry between 2011 and 2018, denying any involvement in unofficial detention facilities.
The al-Assad regime used systematic arrests, including of political opponents, and the most brutal forms of torture to hold on to power for decades.
After the fall of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8, thousands of people were released from prison.
In December 2012, Al-Shaar survived a high-profile assassination attempt claimed by the jihadist al-Nusra Front, now known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the rebel group that led the surprise offensive that toppled al-Assad, ending years of bloody civil war.
HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, was officially appointed as Syria’s transitional president last week.
GNA