Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais met Faiq Zidan, head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, in Damascus on Thursday for talks aimed at deepening judicial cooperation, with the fate of Syrian detainees transferred to Iraq high on the agenda. The Iraqi News Agency (INA) said Zidan arrived in the Syrian capital to discuss several issues of mutual concern, foremost among them ISIS detainees transferred to Iraqi prisons. Al-Wais and Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, adviser for Arab affairs at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, received Zidan. Judge Laith Jabr, head of Iraq’s Judicial Supervision Authority, said the visit opened broad prospects for judicial and legal cooperation between the two countries and included talks on detainees transferred from al-Hol camp. Jabr told INA the Iraqi delegation, headed by Zidan, visited Damascus at the Syrian justice minister’s invitation to discuss a range of shared judicial issues. He said the talks focused on Syrian detainees handed over to Iraq from al-Hol and their legal status, adding that Iraqi authorities had carried out judicial investigations and provided the detainees with all legal guarantees required under Iraqi law. The two sides agreed to form joint judicial committees that would meet regularly to resolve issues linked to the detainees’ trials, Jabr said. The meetings also covered stronger judicial coordination, expanded exchanges of information and expertise, and preparations for future memorandums of understanding between the two countries. Sources following the visit said Zidan was expected to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and hold separate talks with the justice and foreign ministers and other Syrian officials. The discussions were expected to cover ISIS members detained in Iraq, transitional justice, anti-corruption efforts and greater transparency. Informed sources also said Iraq and Syria were close to signing a joint agreement to regulate the transfer and prosecution of Syrian detainees held by Iraqi authorities. Al-Wais said Syria hoped the progress already made in economic and security relations would help drive closer judicial and legal coordination and strengthen ties between the two countries’ justice institutions. Syria’s state news agency SANA quoted him as saying Damascus was committed to balanced and positive relations with its neighbors based on mutual respect and shared interests. He said Syria’s historical ties and mutual interests with Iraq gave both countries stronger reason to expand bilateral cooperation. Al-Wais said Syria was entering a new phase focused on building a state based on the rule of law and institutions, while strengthening national unity and justice. He said the Justice Ministry was pursuing a broad judicial reform program to bolster judicial independence and integrity, improve judges’ efficiency, speed up the delivery of justice and simplify procedures for citizens. Zidan, in turn, pointed to the historic and fraternal ties between Iraq and Syria and said Iraq’s judiciary was seeking new avenues of cooperation to improve judicial work and reinforce the rule of law in both countries. He called for stronger coordination between justice institutions and greater exchanges of expertise, saying regional stability and justice required close judicial cooperation and partnership. Iraqi and Syrian sources also said preparations were under way for a possible visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Damascus for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Sunday, citing sources in Baghdad, that Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s recent visit to Damascus had helped ease mutual concerns in Baghdad and Damascus over bilateral relations and several unresolved political and security issues. The sources said Barzani carried messages between al-Zaidi and al-Sharaa and helped pave the way for a possible visit by the Iraqi prime minister to Damascus.
