Syria’s Highest Fatwa Council Bans Personal Revenge and Vigilante Justice

Welat TV – Erbil

Syria’s Supreme Fatwa Council has issued a religious edict (fatwa) prohibiting acts of personal revenge and extrajudicial retaliation, emphasizing that all grievances must be addressed through legal and judicial channels.

The fatwa, released on Friday, June 6, 2025, and reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), stressed the sanctity of life, property, and personal honor, declaring that violating these rights constitutes one of the gravest forms of injustice.

The Council affirmed that victims have the right to seek justice—but only through legitimate, lawful means. “The obligation in seeking justice lies in resorting to the judiciary alone,” the fatwa stated. “It must not be pursued through individual actions or based on rumors, in order to preserve the sanctity of life and dignity, and to prevent chaos.”

The Council also explicitly forbade incitement to revenge, warning that such behavior “fuels discord and threatens societal peace.”

In a pointed message to authorities, the Council urged swift judicial proceedings and called for the removal of corrupt judges who had served as tools of the former regime in oppressing citizens.

It emphasized that justice must be served to ensure the stability of society.

The fatwa concluded by underscoring that the establishment of justice and the elimination of oppression are essential foundations for societal stability and progress.