Calls to lift sanctions on the Syrian regime are misguided at best and malicious at worst.
Early February 6, 2023, a series of earthquakes as strong as 7.8 in magnitude hit southern Turkiye with shockwaves that radiated into northern Syria, collapsing buildings and killing more than 11,700 people. In response to the catastrophic situation, there have been calls by organizations and prominent figures on social media to lift sanctions on the Assad regime. The American Coalition for Syria (ACS) strongly opposes lifting sanctions on the Assad regime and believes that calls to do so distract from the immediate needs and realities on the ground.
Targeted Sanctions were established to limit Assad’s ability to finance his killing machine. The suffering of the Syrian people is not due to sanctions; it is because Assad, Russia, and Iran have spent over a decade committing the worst atrocities known to humanity against civilians
Dr. Mahmoud Barazi, president of ACS
“We keep hearing a false narrative that the sanctions prevent humanitarian aid from reaching Syria. That is categorically false. Sanctions do not apply to humanitarian assistance as evidenced by the fact that the regime has already received substantial aid. It is disappointing to hear so many echo the messaging of a murderous dictator while doing nothing to stand up for the rights of the Syrian people,” continued Dr. Barzi.Northwestern Syria, the last opposition-held area, was already decimated by years of bombings by the Assad regime and Russia and is host to millions of internally displaced Syrians, many of whom have once again lost their homes. The disaster is anticipated to require a long-term humanitarian aid response.
ACS represents 10 Syrian American and Syria-focused organizations that care deeply about the Syrian people. The ACS has many family members and friends in Turkiye and Syria who have been displaced, injured, or killed in the last 48 hours. ACS urges those seeking to be true allies of the Syrian people to direct support to the localities in northern Syria that are conducting round-the-clock recovery efforts. Heroic groups such as the Syrian Civil Defence organization known as the White Helmets are digging victims out despite being targeted by Assad and Russia throughout the conflict.
Calling for the lifting of sanctions on a regime that is the primary culprit for the destruction of Syria is an insult to its victims and will not make a difference in the lives of the people who urgently need international support today.
ACS represents 10 Syrian American and Syria-focused organizations that care deeply about the Syrian people. The ACS has many family members and friends in Turkiye and Syria who have been displaced, injured, or killed in the last 48 hours. ACS urges those seeking to be true allies of the Syrian people to direct support to the localities in northern Syria that are conducting round-the-clock recovery efforts. Heroic groups such as the Syrian Civil Defence organization known as the White Helmets are digging victims out despite being targeted by Assad and Russia throughout the conflict.
Calling for the lifting of sanctions on a regime that is the primary culprit for the destruction of Syria is an insult to its victims and will not make a difference in the lives of the people who urgently need international support today.
ACS Organizations
Supporting Organizations
