WASHINGTON D.C., April 29, 2022 – As the world watches the atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine, the American Coalition for Syria (ACS) calls for the US to not only press forward on investigating those crimes but the ones shockingly revealed this week out of Tadamon in Damascus, Syria. The footage recently released by The Guardian clearly shows the brutal and intentional murder of 41 civilians in 2013 by Branch 227 Mukhabarat officers near Damascus who then buried the victims in mass graves, and identifies the oft-laughing men who committed the war crimes under direct orders from the Syrian regime.
“The horrific footage has rattled even those of us who have worked in the Syrian human rights advocacy space for quite some time. Even more unsettling is the delight exhibited by the men while committing war crimes. This sort of lack of regard for humanity reflects Assad’s palpable callous disregard for his own people. These crimes, although committed nine years ago, have been replicated again and again over the past 11 years. We urge the United States government, particularly the State Department, to investigate these crimes further and to pursue political and financial accountability measures now.” said Mirna Barq, spokeswoman for the American Coalition for Syria.
As Putin’s forces commit similar crimes – pulling women, men, and children from their beds and torturing and killing them – the international community must accept that there can be no chance of reconciliation or dialogue with leaders who use systemic rape, torture, and murder as accepted policy. As powerful as the weapons of justice and accountability are, western governments also have a responsibility to stop further violence whether it is in Syria or Ukraine, and stand up for the protection of human rights and dignity.
