Basima Muhammad Ali Musattat

About Basima

Basima Muhammad Ali Musattat is a defense lawyer registered with Aleppo Bar Association. She has more than 5 years of experience providing legal defense. She believes that transitional justice is essential during periods of political and social transition and that the law is a mechanism for protecting individuals who have suffered human rights violations.

The Challenge

Ms. Musattat identifies the lack of cooperation among various actors within the legal sector as a challenge to accessing justice. A lack of shared legal understanding among justice actors leads to a cumbersome justice system that is inefficient and difficult to navigate.

The Innovation: Justice and Freedom for the Accused in the Transitional Phase

Ms Musattat’s project addresses the gaps in the legal process that deprive accused persons of their rights, particularly the lack of coordination and transparency between police, prosecutors, and other justice actors in Aleppo. She aims to ensure that a public prosecutor is present during the initial interrogations, train lawyers and prosecutors to conduct lawful and humane interrogations and visit detainees to explain their rights. In addition, Ms Mustat emphasizes that detention alone does not achieve deterrence unless accompanied by rehabilitation programs. Therefore, the project aims to also help prisons develop rehabilitation initiatives. By providing legal awareness and representation for men, women, and children, the project promotes early access to justice while supporting rehabilitation for detainees.