Screenshots of videos on social media allegedly showing current Syrian Justice Minister delivering execution verdicts for two women in rural Idlib. (Credit: @VeSyria/X)
BEIRUT — Social media users circulated two videos showing the execution of two women accused of "corruption and prostitution." Claims spread that the man delivering the verdicts was Shadi Al-Waisi, the Minister of Justice in the government of the New Syrian Administration.
The Syrian fact-checking platform ‘Verify’ posted on X on Saturday that it had “conducted an in-depth investigation using advanced tools to analyze the facial features and voice in the videos — at least one of which included clear audio — and compared them to those of Minister Shadi al-Waisi, who has recently appeared in several recorded interviews. The analysis revealed a high degree of similarity, despite the poor quality of the circulated footage. To ensure accuracy, Verify contacted several sources within the New Syrian Administration. A senior official confirmed that the individual in the videos is indeed Shadi al-Waisi, who at the time was serving as a judge.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FactCheck?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FactCheck</a> A video claiming to show Syrian Minister of Justice Shadi al-Waisi reading execution sentences has circulated online. After thorough verification, including voice and facial matching, it was confirmed that the person in the video is indeed al-Waisi, who was a judge at… <a href="https://t.co/0SbfhsTZ1e">pic.twitter.com/0SbfhsTZ1e</a></p>— تَـأكّـدْ (@VeSyria) <a href="https://twitter.com/VeSyria/status/1875594532042989633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, a senior official told Verify that "the video content reflects the enforcement of law during a specific period and location."
Syria’s interim Justice Minister, Shadi al-Waisi, is seen overseeing the sentencing and execution of women accused of adultery and prostitution as part of Al-Nusra Front’s application of Sharia law in areas under its control in Idlib in January 2015.
At that time, Waisi was serving as a judge.
"The actions were conducted in accordance with the laws in place at the time and followed established procedures. However, we emphasize that this represents a chapter we have moved beyond as part of our ongoing legal and procedural reforms. These videos should not be used to characterize the present or the current administration, given the evolving context and references," the official added.
HE ensured that the new Syrian authorities are "committed to upholding justice and the rule of law under the new legal framework agreed upon by Syrians," pledging to "review all legal actions from that era to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the rulings."
Social media users split between support and disdain
Users took to social media to comment on the matter, which has sparked controversy.
On X, Mohamad Brijawi wrote, “This means he should be prosecuted because there is no Quranic text that prescribes execution, nor is there any text from the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="ar" dir="rtl">معناها يجب ان يحاكم <br>لانه لايوجد نص قرآني بالقتل ولا نص من سنة نبينا محمد<br>بل اجتهاد يخالف الشرع <br>وهذا يعود بشريعة النبي موسى<br>اما رسالة سيدنا محمد فهي الجلد <br>بعد ان يصبت التحقق بشهود اربعة<br>وعليه فهو قتل متعمدا<br>ويجب محاكمته</p>— Mohamad Brijawi (@mohamadzoka) <a href="https://twitter.com/mohamadzoka/status/1875601083915231338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wissam Azma wrote, “This is excellent — executing someone who runs a prostitution network. I am not a supporter of Jolani's government, but this action is good.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="ar" dir="rtl">هذا شيء ممتاز، إعدام من تدير شبكة دعارة.<br><br>لست من مؤيدي حكومة الجولاني، لكن هذا التصرف جيد.</p>— د. وسام العظَمة Dr. Wissam (@WissamAzma) <a href="https://twitter.com/WissamAzma/status/1875603773214879789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Dec. 9, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria. There are growing concerns that Syria, under HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, could become a fundamentalist state, a hub for international jihadism, or embolden Islamist groups in Lebanon and beyond.