Beyond Conflict: Transitional Justice, Counterterrorism, and the Future of al-Hol Camp in Syria
Wed, 9 April, 2025
10:00am - 11:30am
As Syria grapples with the aftermath of prolonged conflict, critical challenges remain unanswered: How can transitional justice mechanisms pave the way for long-term peace and reconciliation? What future strategies in counterterrorism will effectively dismantle remaining extremist networks, particularly those associated with ISIS? And what sustainable solutions exist for the al-Hol camp, which houses thousands linked to ISIS, including women and children?
A panel of leading women experts and practitioners explored these pressing issues in online discussion. Moderated by Senior Research Fellow Omar Mohammed, the event critically examined ongoing transitional justice efforts, analyzed counterterrorism policies, and discussed viable humanitarian and security pathways for addressing the complex realities of the al-Hol camp. Panelists offered forward-thinking insights and policy recommendations for international actors, governments, and humanitarian organizations aiming to foster stability and security in Syria and beyond.
Panelists:
- Maria Al Abdeh: Expert on Transitional Justice and role of Women (Syria)
- Natalia Arboleda: Co-founder & International Affairs Director of Fundación ACORDemos (Colombia)
- Sherri Kraham Talabany: President, SEED Foundation (Kurdistan - Iraq)
- Maha Ghazi: Independent Field Expert (Morocco)
On April 9, 2025, a virtual panel was held to discuss transitional justice, post conflict recovery, and reintegration in Syria and other conflict-affected regions. The event featured Dr. Mariah Al Abdeh, Sherri Kraham Talabany, Maha Ghazi, and Natalia Arboleda, each bringing unique insights from their respective experiences in Syria, Iraq, and Colombia. The event was moderated by PoE Senior Research Fellow & Head of the Antisemitism Research Initiative, Omar Mohammed.
The discussion began with Dr. Mariah Al Abdeh, a feminist leader and expert in transitional justice. She shared her experience establishing safe spaces for women in Syria since 2013 and recounted how, by 2014, many women were already demanding justice, especially among the most vulnerable and marginalized. Maria highlighted how justice must include everyone, even those affiliated with groups like ISIS, if a truly inclusive and healing process is to occur. She described how the first transitional justice gathering in Syria, organized by a women-led group, brought together over 50 organizations across religious and political divides. Justice, she emphasized, is not only about accountability, but about ensuring children have the same rights and opportunities as others and about confronting the root causes of violence before they reemerge.
Natalia, a geopolitical strategist and former member of the Colombian peace negotiating team, spoke next, drawing lessons from Colombia’s decades-long conflict. She emphasized that transitional justice efforts must be clearly defined, legally grounded from the start, and centered on victims. Trust in institutions must be rebuilt through national ownership, with international actors offering support rather than imposing solutions. She pointed to the importance of regional cooperation, particularly when facing challenges such as the displacement of people across borders. Her experiences in high-level diplomacy underscored that peace requires societal engagement and sustained investment in credible processes.
Sherri Kraham Talabany, President of SEED and a human rights lawyer with decades of experience in conflict zones, focused her remarks on the psychological toll of conflict and the urgent need for mental health and reintegration support, particularly for children in camps like Al-Hol in Syria. She introduced Integrative Complexity (IC) thinking as a promising tool to help counter black-and-white thinking, build cognitive resilience, and support both deradicalization and reintegration. Drawing on successful IC initiatives in Iraq, she emphasized that reintegration is a long-term, individual and collective process, requiring sustained, systemic support. Without proper psychological services, releasing individuals into communities can pose serious risks, particularly when so many children have no families or stable environments to return to.
Maha Ghazi, a doctoral researcher and human rights officer, focused her intervention on the evolving dynamics in Al-Hol camp, which she described as a micro-society stuck in a “protection” phase between crisis and closure. She underscored the responsibilities of states to repatriate their citizens and develop justice mechanisms nationally. Children born and raised in the camp, often by very young mothers, grow up without exposure to a sense of normality. Maha raised concern about decreasing international funding, the spread of misinformation about the camp, and the lack of a coordinated, long-term plan for reintegration. While she acknowledged Syria’s limitations, she argued that the country must lead the process, with meaningful international support that respects local agency.
The panelists then responded to a range of questions, including the viability of justice in the current Syrian context. Mariah stressed the need for grassroots initiatives and long-term commitment, while Natalia suggested that even symbolic acknowledgments of responsibility can be an early form of justice, if community-led. Sherri noted that while justice is crucial, alternative mechanisms like reparations, education, and mental health programs can also provide victims with a sense of inclusion. The event concluded with a shared recognition that recovery must be multidimensional, inclusive, and deeply rooted in both justice and healing.