Syrian forces may be committing crimes against humanity: UN report
Syrian government forces cracking down on the opposition may be committing crimes against humanity, according to a report published Aug. 18 by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The 22-page report, prepared by the the Fact-finding Mission on Syria, contains allegations of summary executions, killing of unarmed protesters and torture of detainees. According to the report, "[t]he Mission found a pattern of human rights violations that constitutes widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population, which may amount to crimes against humanity as provided for in article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court." The Fact-finding Mission recommended that the Security Council refer Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for further investigation. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) is to hold a special session on Syria next week.
The Fact-finding Mission was establishedcalled for the HRC to convene a second special session on Syria . Also last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that an unknown Western country is funding an ICC investigation into Syria's recent human rights abuses. Last month, two UN rights officials expressed concern over reports of violence used by Syrian authorities against the country's own people. Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Francis Deng and Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect Edward Luck said that reports of Syrian forces killing or arbitrarily arresting peaceful protesters indicate potentially grievous violations of international human rights laws, and urged officials to adhere to the government's 2005 pledge to protect its citizens. In June, the OHCHR published a preliminary report describing human rights violations in Syria and calling for an investigation into government-authorized abuses related to pro-democracy protests that began earlier this year.
From Jurist, Aug. 18. Used with permission.
See our last posts on Syria and the Arab revolutions.
Syria: Hama prosecutor quits over repression
From the Los Angeles Times, Sept. 1:
Syrian protesters call for "international protection"
Thousands of protesters again took to the streets of cities across Syria for Friday protests Sept. 9—and for the first time called for international help. The movement, which nominates a theme for each Friday's protest, this time declared the "Day of International Protection." Protesters chanted "We want international protection!" A banner in an AFP photo reads "International protection is the best protection." (BBC News, FT, Sept. 9)
Syria: pro-regime demonstrators target US envoy
Pro-regime demonstrators tried to attack the US ambassador to Syria on Sept. 29, as Damascus accused Washington of inciting "armed groups" to violence against the army. Nearly 100 Syrians tried to storm an office in the capital where the ambassador, Robert Ford, had just arrived to meet opposition figure Hassan Abdelazim, the latter said. "They were protesting in the street and at the entrance to the building. They tried to break down the door of my office, but didn't succeed," Abdelazim told AFP. (AFP, Sept. 29)