Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Saturday that around a third of the population had been wanted by the intelligence and security services of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December.
Baba told a press conference in Damascus that "the number of people wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeds eight million".
"We are talking about around a third of the Syrian people who had records and were wanted by the repressive intelligence and security agencies of the former regime," he said, adding that the ministry had been working to address the issue.
After Syria's civil war broke out with Assad's brutal repression of peaceful anti-government protests, millions of Syrians found themselves caught in the dragnet of the feared security services, facing prosecution, abuse and rights violations.
Many faced accusations of taking part in or promoting demonstrations, "undermining the prestige of the state", communicating with foreign parties or financing and supporting "terrorism".
Assad used the term "terrorism" to describe all rebels and groups opposing his rule.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians were thrown into prison, where many faced torture and tens of thousands are still missing.
Many people only found out they were wanted when they were detained at security checkpoints or as they sought to leave the country, because the charges were often issued secretly.
An Islamist-led coalition toppled Assad in December after five decades of his family's iron-fisted rule and nearly 14 years of brutal war that killed more than half a million people and displaced millions more.
Baba's remarks came on the sidelines of an announcement of a restructuring of the interior ministry that includes creating a number of new departments.
They include a complaints department and a border security body in charge of Syria's land and sea frontiers that is tasked with "combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks".
A tourism police department will be tasked with securing tourist sites and visitors in the war-torn country, home to important archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage sites including the ancient city of Palmyra.
Since taking power, the new administration has been seeking to revitalise crumbling public administration and facilities, and has also announced the formation of commissions for missing persons and transitional justice.
Rights groups, activists and the international community have repeatedly emphasised the importance of transitional justice in the war-ravaged country.
AFP
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