The General Intelligence Directorate in Damascus announced the arrest of the criminal Ali Kialy, known as "Ma'raj Ural", while he was attempting to flee across the Syrian border, a move described by officials as an important development towards achieving justice and vindicating the families of the victims of the 2013 Baniyas massacres, and reaffirming the Syrian state's determination to pursue and hold accountable those who committed crimes, ensuring they do not escape punishment after more than thirteen years of waiting.
Kialy, born in 1956 in the Hatay province of Turkey, is considered one of the main figures responsible for the Al-Bayda and Ras al-Nab' massacres in Baniyas. The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the martyrdom of 264 civilians, including 36 children and 28 women, in the Al-Bayda massacre, and 195 civilians, including 56 children and 43 women, in the Ras al-Nab' massacre. He is also implicated in the 2013 Reyhanli bombing in Turkey, which killed 53 people.
For his part, Ahmed Muwaffaq Zaydan, Advisor to the Presidency for Media Affairs, welcomed the arrest, affirming that the pursuit of criminals would continue. He stated, "Every criminal killer will be hunted down, regardless of how long it takes. There will be no escape from our security agencies' pursuit." Meanwhile, Justice Minister Mohannad al-Awais confirmed that the arrest sends a clear message that there is no place in Syria for impunity.
Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, Chairman of the National Authority for Transitional Justice, pointed out that the arrest confirms that past crimes do not expire with time. Meanwhile, Fadl Abdul Ghani, Director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, affirmed that this represents an important development in the accountability process, as it restores hope for achieving justice for the victims' families. The Ministry of Interior continues to pursue those involved in violations against civilians during the former regime's rule.
It is worth noting that Internal Security Forces arrested Jamal Tripoli, Kialy's deputy, on the fourth of the current month, as part of efforts to achieve transitional justice and hold those responsible for crimes against Syrians accountable.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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