The American Coalition for Syria (ACS) condemns the decision to invite Bashar al-Assad to attend the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, to be held in December later this year. After years of crimes against humanity, including the mass bombing, gassing, kidnapping, and torture of civilians, Assad should not be welcomed at any global forum.
The invitation of a war criminal like Bashar Al-Assad to the COP 28 summit raises serious questions about the United Nations' commitment to accountability for the atrocities and gross violations committed against the Syrian people. ACS calls on the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to follow through on their commitments to not empower Assad or allow other countries to empower him by asking the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates to rescind their invitation to Assad to attend the summit.
The invitation of a war criminal like Bashar Al-Assad to the COP 28 summit raises serious questions about the United Nations' commitment to accountability for the atrocities and gross violations committed against the Syrian people. ACS calls on the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to follow through on their commitments to not empower Assad or allow other countries to empower him by asking the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates to rescind their invitation to Assad to attend the summit.
The presence of Assad at the COP 28 summit is a moral outrage. The current campaign to rehabilitate a mass-murdering war criminal has no place at the table of global climate change leaders. It is not only a diplomatic distraction, but it also sends a message that the international community is willing to normalize and even reward egregious human rights violators."
Dr. Mahmoud Barazi, president of ACS
ACS urges all allies to join the organization in calling on the international community to not allow Bashar Al-Assad on an international stage at the COP 28 summit.
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About the American Coalition for Syria: The American Coalition for Syria is a coalition of US-based organizations that support a principled US policy based on democratic reform, human rights, accountability, and women empowerment in Syria.
