Eight million Syrians were wanted by Assad regime for 'political reasons', new authorities say

Interior Ministry says intelligence and security services sought about a third of the population

A Syrian woman searches for a relative who was detained in Sednaya prison, which became notorious under Bashar Al Assad's rule. Reuters

About a third of Syria's population was wanted by the country's intelligence and security apparatus for “political reasons” under former president Bashar Al Assad, an Interior Ministry spokesman for the new government has said.

Noureddine Al Baba was speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Saturday at which he announced a restructuring of the Interior Ministry that includes renewed efforts to fight cross-border drug and people smuggling.

Mr Al Baba said “the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million”.

After Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, millions of Syrians found themselves caught in the dragnet of the security services, facing prosecution, abuse or rights violations. Many were accused of taking part in or promoting demonstrations, “undermining the prestige of the state”, communicating with foreign parties or financing and supporting “terrorism”. Hundreds of thousands were thrown into prison, where many faced torture and tens of thousands are still missing.

Foreigners are among those who have vanished. The US said on Sunday that the new authorities in Syria have agreed to help find and return Americans unaccounted for, with US special envoy to the country Tom Barrack calling the offer a “powerful step forward”.

A coalition of rebels toppled Mr Al Assad in December after five decades of his family's rule. The new government on Saturday announced a restructuring of the Interior Ministry, which includes a number of new departments aimed at creating “a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards”.

The new departments include a complaints section and a border security body in charge of Syria's land and sea frontiers that will be tasked with “combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks”.

Washington is lifting sanctions on Syria after the move was announced by US President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he briefly met Mr Al Shara. Reuters

The reforms to the ministry will “strengthen the role of the anti-drug department and further develop its importance within Syria and abroad”, Mr Al Baba said.

Syria has been a major exporter of the illicit stimulant Captagon, with millions of pills produced under the Assad regime and shipped to neighbouring countries.

With foreign missions reopening in Syria following Mr Al Assad's departure from Syria, another department in the reshaped ministry will handle security for government facilities and embassies, Mr Al Baba added.

A tourism police department will be responsible for securing tourist sites and visitors. Syria is home to archaeological and Unesco World Heritage sites, including the ancient city of Palmyra.

Since taking power, the new government under President Ahmad Al Shara has been seeking to revitalise public administration. The latest reforms come as Damascus aims to improve ties with western powers that have or are considering lifting sanctions, including the US.

Washington formalised a decision to remove sanctions on Friday after it was announced by US President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he briefly met Mr Al Shara.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday welcomed Washington's move, calling it “a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country”.