Syrian Government Responds to Amnesty Report on Sectarian Violence
Amnesty International calls for accountability following recent massacres targeting the Alawite minority.
Syria’s government announced on Friday that it is 'closely following' a newly released report by Amnesty International, which urges an investigation into sectarian massacres that took place last month.
The report highlights potential war crimes committed against the Alawite minority and calls for accountability from Syrian authorities.
In its findings published on Thursday, Amnesty International stated that security forces and allied groups are responsible for the deaths of over 1,700 civilians, primarily from the Alawite community, during the recent violence.
In response, the Syrian government issued a statement indicating that it is reviewing the preliminary report.
The government emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Independent National Commission for Investigation and Fact-Finding to evaluate these findings, as established by a presidential decree that grants the commission significant mandate, independence, and power.
The Syrian authorities criticized Amnesty's report for not adequately capturing 'the broader context of the events' that transpired.
They maintained that the violence commenced with a 'premeditated assault' by 'remnants of the previous regime,' targeting members of the army and internal security personnel.
In light of the subsequent turmoil, the government acknowledged the occurrence of 'acts of retaliation and serious violations' from various parties involved and pledged to conduct investigations, aiming to release a detailed report within one month.
The Alawite community, from which the former Assad regime drew substantial support during its five-decade reign, has expressed fears regarding reprisals following the ousting of President Bashar Al Assad.
The recent spike in sectarian violence has resulted in some of the most severe bloodshed in the region since Assad's removal, particularly affecting the Alawite heartland along the coast.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has reiterated a commitment to prosecute those implicated in the 'bloodshed of civilians' and has established a fact-finding committee to investigate the incidents.
The current political landscape includes the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which played a significant role in the offensive against Assad's regime, and the new security forces are largely composed of individuals who previously fought as Islamist rebels.
The Syrian government has attributed the violence to provocations by former regime supporters, who allegedly initiated attacks on the newly formed security forces.
The report highlights potential war crimes committed against the Alawite minority and calls for accountability from Syrian authorities.
In its findings published on Thursday, Amnesty International stated that security forces and allied groups are responsible for the deaths of over 1,700 civilians, primarily from the Alawite community, during the recent violence.
In response, the Syrian government issued a statement indicating that it is reviewing the preliminary report.
The government emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Independent National Commission for Investigation and Fact-Finding to evaluate these findings, as established by a presidential decree that grants the commission significant mandate, independence, and power.
The Syrian authorities criticized Amnesty's report for not adequately capturing 'the broader context of the events' that transpired.
They maintained that the violence commenced with a 'premeditated assault' by 'remnants of the previous regime,' targeting members of the army and internal security personnel.
In light of the subsequent turmoil, the government acknowledged the occurrence of 'acts of retaliation and serious violations' from various parties involved and pledged to conduct investigations, aiming to release a detailed report within one month.
The Alawite community, from which the former Assad regime drew substantial support during its five-decade reign, has expressed fears regarding reprisals following the ousting of President Bashar Al Assad.
The recent spike in sectarian violence has resulted in some of the most severe bloodshed in the region since Assad's removal, particularly affecting the Alawite heartland along the coast.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has reiterated a commitment to prosecute those implicated in the 'bloodshed of civilians' and has established a fact-finding committee to investigate the incidents.
The current political landscape includes the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which played a significant role in the offensive against Assad's regime, and the new security forces are largely composed of individuals who previously fought as Islamist rebels.
The Syrian government has attributed the violence to provocations by former regime supporters, who allegedly initiated attacks on the newly formed security forces.
