The Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Syrian Revolution

Ten years after courageous protestors took to the streets in Syria, the Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria recommit to a vision of a free Syria

WASHINGTON D.C., March 15, 2021 –  Today, the Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria pay remembrance to the ten years of hope, loss, and bravery that have characterized the Syrian Revolution. Both organizations work directly with Syrians and Syrian Americans who have demonstrated the utmost courage as they strive for a free and democratic Syria, and together, honor their tireless efforts. 

The Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria Welcome Strikes Against Iran-Backed Terrorist Militias in Syria

The administration’s decision to carry out airstrikes against an Iranian-backed militia in al-Bukamal should be the start of a more assertive foreign policy towards Iran

WASHINGTON D.C., February 27, 2021 – The Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria applaud the Biden administration’s decision to respond to the recent attacks on U.S. interests by Iranian-backed terrorist groups with airstrikes that signal a tough stance on Iran, a position the undersigned organizations hope to see continued through a foreign policy that prioritizes the humanitarian and security situation in Syria. These airstrikes make it clear that strong responses to Iran’s malign activities through its proxies in Syria can - and should - be a consistent feature of the administration’s regional strategy. 

The Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria Applaud Extension and Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status For Syria

6,700 individuals stand to benefit from the extension, and 1,800 individuals stand to benefit from the redesignation

WASHINGTON D.C., January 29, 2021 –  Today, the Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria applaud the Biden administration for its decision to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Syria to September 2022, and to redesignate 1,800 individuals, making them eligible to file for TPS. TPS provides protection from deportation and permission to work for eligible nationals of countries that have been designated temporarily too dangerous for return. An estimated 8,500  people are set to benefit from the redesignation and extension. This decision provides a strong starting point for the new administration’s relationship with Syrian Americans and a Syria policy that promotes the safety of Syrian civilians and their aspirations for a free and democratic Syria.

The Syrian American Council Strongly Condemns Attack on United States Capitol

The members, staff, and supporters of the Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria watched in disbelief as the basic values of American democracy were threatened in the Capitol on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON D.C., January 13, 2021 –  The Syrian American Council and Americans for a Free Syria mourn the senseless loss of life and strongly condemn the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol last week. We also call upon the U.S. government to ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable, and specifically urges Congress to conduct an investigation into the incitement and disinformation which led to the attack.

A Coalition of Syrian American Organizations Decry the Inappropriate Use of “Restorative Justice” by United Nations Syria Envoy

On the anniversary of the passage of the United Nations Security Resolution 2254, a coalition of Syrian American organizations call on the United Nations to pursue accountability for all those responsible for atrocities while following the steps outlined in the resolution that will lead to a peaceful political transition.

WASHINGTON D.C., December 22, 2020 – A coalition of Syrian American organizations advise a recommitment by the United Nations to a political transition that prioritizes accountability as a prerequisite for any national reconciliation as laid out in UNSCR 2254. This comes in light of inaccurate statements on December 16 by the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on behalf of the “middle third” of the Constitutional Committee during a United Nations Security Council briefing. The comments erroneously reported that civil society members of the group had called for “restorative justice” instead of “transitional justice” in their talking points. After almost ten years of violence and crimes against humanity by Bashar al-Assad and his criminal regime, restorative justice is not a substitute for an inclusive and Syrian-led political transitional process and should never be used in discussions about the future of Syria.

Syrian American Council Calls for Accountability on Fifth Anniversary of Russian Involvement in Syria

Five years of Russian intervention has brought devastation and suffering to Syria

WASHINGTON D.C., October 1, 2020 – This week marks a somber anniversary for the Syrian people. Five years ago this week, Russia entered the war in Syria to prop up a brutal dictator by bombing the besieged community of Talbiseh in northern Homs, killing 33 civilians. In the resulting years, Russia has formed the pillars of its strategy in Syria, using the pretense of fighting the Islamic State to counter threats to the rule of Bashar- al Assad and bomb civilians in areas controlled by the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups. The Syrian American Council reiterates calls for the Assad regime to be removed, and for Russia and Iran to withdraw their forces from the country and to return the natural resources and property rights they have pillaged to the Syrian people.

Mass Graves Around Damascus Are a Reminder That Bashar al-Assad Remains the Biggest Threat to Syria

WASHINGTON D.C., September 22, 2020 –  On Wednesday, September 9, 2020, an unnamed witness provided testimony in a courtroom in Koblenz, Germany during the prosecution of Anwar Raslan and Eyad al Gharib that described the mass graves he helped dig around Damascus and the hundreds of victims that they buried in them each day: men, women, and children with visible signs of torture, all numbered and recorded as they were processed through Assad’s industrial-scale killing machine. The Syrian American Council calls on the United States and other western governments to follow Germany’s lead in preventing impunity among Syrian regime officials and for immediate action to remove the Assad regime from power in order to stop the atrocities and begin the road to recovery for Syria.

In April 2019, as the Russian-backed Assad regime began a new offensive on Syria’s Idlib province, the Syrian American Council began vehemently planning for a comprehensive media campaign to bring awareness to the largest humanitarian crisis since WWII, while attempting to preemptively minimize the devastation to civilians.

Caesar Act Facts

On June 17, 2020, the Treasury Department designated nine entities and individuals with financial connections to the Assad regime for sanctions under the auspices of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. The State Department and Treasury also took this opportunity to announce targeted sanctions against an additional 30 entities, including Bashar al-Assad and many members of his inner circle, under the authority of existing executive orders. 

The act seeks to minimize the impact on Syrian civilians by applying highly targeted sanctions against the Assad regime and its backers, the Caesar Act will do the following:

• Put real pressure on the Syrian, Russian, and Iranian governments to agree to a political transition in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. 
• Send the message that there are consequences for the systematic atrocities committed against civilians by Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran, who are engaged in malign activities around the globe.
• Help to neutralize the threats emanating from the Assad regime through its creation of a safe haven for terrorist groups, its use of chemical weapons against civilians, and the political instability that it continues to foster both inside Syria and throughout the region.

Under the act, the Assad regime must meet a series of benchmarks before sanctions can be lifted, including:

• The suspension of airstrikes against civilians, hospitals, schools, and residential and community areas by both the regime and Russian forces.
• The release of political prisoners from regime prisons, and the inspection of detention centers by international human rights groups.
• The facilitation of the safe return of IDPs and refugees.
• Verifiable compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
• Taking steps to provide meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes in Syria. 

Since 2011, and even prior, Syrian Americans have been fully engaged with their fellow Syrians on the ground on multiple levels both individually and through their organizations. Economically, they contributed tens of millions of dollars in direct aid and development distributed all over Syria. Particularly over the past decade, Syrian Americans have organized themselves and have become a formidable voice in Washington DC. As a result, they were able to successfully push for clear humanitarian exceptions and avenues in order to focus the pressure of the Caesar act on the Syrian regime and alleviate as much of it as possible off of the Syrian people.

On July 26, 2020 the Syrian American Council and Students Organize for Syria held a film screening on "Syria's Disappeared: The Case Against Assad". The panelists discussed the Caesar Act as the first step towards accountability and justice for the Syrian people. 

Watch the discussion here.

Aid to Civilians in North Syria Must Continue, Despite Russian and Chinese Veto

Syrian American organizations call for cross-border aid to continue, going directly to humanitarian and civil society groups on the ground

WASHINGTON D.C., July 11, 2020 – Syrian American organizations express their concern at the July 7, 2020, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on a draft resolution to reauthorize the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism in northern Syria that expired on July 10. The decision by Russia and China to exercise their veto to reject the proposal to reauthorize the Bab al-Salam and Bab-al Hawa crossings for 12 months will leave civilians without lifesaving support.