London, Jan 27 (V7N) — Fighters affiliated with Syria's new ruling group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have executed 35 people over the past three days, according to a report by The Guardian. Most of those killed were former officials of the ousted Bashar al-Assad government who had surrendered to the new authorities.

The report cited accusations from HTS authorities against a "criminal group" allegedly involved in atrocities against local residents while posing as members of the security forces. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that the accused individuals were sentenced to death following summary trials, raising concerns over extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

“This wave of arrests and the execution of 35 individuals mark another grave violation of human rights in Syria,” the observatory stated. It also highlighted that religious minorities in the region were being subjected to humiliation and torture under HTS rule.

The Britain-based monitoring group further noted that the victims were primarily former Assad government officials who had laid down their arms and surrendered, only to face brutal retribution. This development adds to the growing concern over the conduct of HTS, which has taken control of large parts of Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.

The executions have sparked condemnation from human rights organizations, with calls for accountability and an end to the ongoing violence and persecution in the region.

END/RH/AJ