DERKUSH
Members of the Free Syrian Army have begun to form their own judicial system on the third year of the Syrian crisis.
Anadolu Agency viewed the trial carried out by the Free Syrian Army at the court once used by the Syrian regime, in the Syrian province of Derkush.
Captive Assad soldiers as well as people involved in infamous offenses such as stealing are put on trial in the buildings with traces of war embedded all around it.
Verdicts of physical punishments are not given in the courtrooms or room-like custodial prisons.
The court is headed by Cuma Ali Yusuf (65) who stated that the judiciary process was unbiased and objective and everyone had equal opportunity in terms of their right of defense.
"We judge all cases including the ones related to Assad or generally regarding the people in our courts. If a soldier of Assad files a complaint about a member of the Free Syrian Army, we put them on trial too. We seek no discrimination between civilians and military officers. We don't sentence anyone to death. However, Assad has oppressed all of the people and still continues to do so. He is the reason for the people to leave their homeland. Would a government army slaughter its own people? Assad and his army did. And no matter how hard he tries, he is bound to leave. Syria has been the land for many religious groups for years. They create sectarian tension and blame us for it," Yusuf said.
Hisem Muhammed Favati, who was a member of the Syrian Army captured near Idlib four months ago, stated that he joined the Free Syrian Army with his own will following his trial.
"The treatment here is much better than the treatment I saw in the Syrian army. We are neither beaten nor starved. I felt like I'm with my family. Everything was forbidden in the Syrian army. We couldn't contact our families. They used to tell us that the free Syrian army was killing the Alawites.
Ali Asim Ahmed (21) also stated that he joined the Free Syrian Army willingly eight months ago, and added, "I escaped the army and joined the Free Syrian army. Assad's army ordered us to kill without any mercy on children. Assad's army was killing children and its people whereas the Free syrian Army is protecting its people."
