Syria's New Justice Minister Shadi Al-Waisi Oversaw Public Executions of Two Women for Prostitution in 2015

Jan 4, 2025, 11:15 PM

Shadi Al-Waisi, Syria's newly appointed interim Minister of Justice, has come under scrutiny following the emergence of videos from 2015 showing him overseeing the public executions of two women accused of prostitution in Idlib. The videos confirm that Al-Waisi, who was a Sharia judge for the al-Nusra Front, played a direct role in these executions, which have been described as brutal. In one instance, a woman was shot point-blank in the head while he was present. The controversy surrounding Al-Waisi's past actions raises questions about the legitimacy of the current Syrian government, which is viewed with skepticism by the West. The videos have been verified and have sparked significant criticism regarding the appointment of a figure associated with such acts to a high-ranking governmental position.