Deadly Terrorist Bombing in Afrin, Syria Highlights Local Corruption and Instability 

Syrian American Council calls for immediate reforms among opposition factions in northeast Syria  

WASHINGTON D.C., May 2, 2020 – On Tuesday, April 28, nearly 50 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack in the city of Afrin, Syria. A truck bomb targeted a market area full of families buying food to break their Ramadan fast. Nearly a dozen children were among the victims. 

Every attack against civilians in Syria is an intolerable crime, but this incident – coming at a moment of collective global crisis – stands out for its cruelty and callousness. The Syrian American Council strongly condemns those responsible for this horrific act of terrorism and expresses sympathy for the families impacted by this violence. 

Syrian American Council To Participate In Together We Remember Global Virtual Vigil

On April 30, executive director, Suzanne Meriden will join a coalition of leading genocide education and human rights organizations in a 24-hour virtual vigil to conclude Genocide Awareness Month

WASHINGTON D.C., April 29, 2020 – On Thursday, April 30, from 10-11 a.m. EST, Syrian American Council executive director, Suzanne Meriden will join an esteemed panel of activists and frontline workers in a discussion on “Working for peace, justice, and healing in Syria” as part of a 24-hour Global Virtual Vigil, hosted by Together We Remember. The panel will be moderated by journalist and author Sam Dagher, and additional panelists will include Abdulrahman Almawwas of the White Helmets and Ahed Festuk of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees.

The Syrian American Council Cautions Aid Organizations Against the Weaponization of Aid by the Syrian Regime

In light of COVID-19, World Health Organization and others must confront Assad’s exploitation of aid organizations 

WASHINGTON D.C., April 13, 2020 – The Syrian American Council advises careful decision making by policymakers and aid organizations in the face of calls by members of the United Nations to lift economic sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine years of war in Syria have revealed that the Syrian regime has used aid as a weapon of war while killing its own people, and will continue to do so, while deceiving aid organizations. 

Join Us Saturday, March 28 at 12- 2 PM EST for a Virtual Protest for Idlib

3.5 Million Civilians at Risk

Today in Idlib, the Assad regime and its Russian allies have waged a brutal military campaign against the 3.5 million civilians in Idlib, Syria, 60% of whom are children who risk death in freezing winter conditions.

The Syrian American Council will be leading a virtual protest on March 28 to call for the establishment and enforcement of a safe zone in Idlib to protect civilians from ground-based and aerial attacks.

Step 1: Invite your friends and family to join you virtually, in their own homes, at 12-2 PM EST on March 28.

Step 2: Print a sign. The Syrian American Council has drawn up suggested options here.

Step 3: From 12-2 PM EST share pictures of yourself in your own homes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use the hashtag #safezoneforidlib

Step 4: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so we can share future exciting advocacy initiatives!

Don’t forget to tag us!

@syrianamericancouncil

@sa_council

Since mid-April, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and several hundred thousand displaced due to ongoing, escalated attacks by Russia and the Assad regime. Continued attacks would create the worst humanitarian disaster of the Syrian conflict.  

We need at least 100 members of Congress on the Hill, talking about Idlib. Can you get yours to lend their voices?

Contact your members of Congress today and ask that they speak out immediately and firmly to demand the U.S. take assertive action to end the slaughter in Idlib.   

Read the Letter Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Syrian American Council Salutes Court Ruling on Murdered Journalist

Ruling in favor of Marie Colvin’s family may inspire additional U.S. cases against the Assad regime

WASHINGTON D.C., February 1, 2019 – The Syrian American Council applauds Thursday’s decision by the Washington, D.C. District Court to enter a judgement against the Syrian government for the extrajudicial killing of American journalist Marie Colvin. This decision, filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act targeting state sponsors of terrorism, will require the regime to pay over $300 million in damages. It marks the first instance in which a U.S. domestic court has held the Assad regime responsible for its war crimes.

“The ruling is a victory for those demanding accountability, not simply for the Assad regime’s crimes against humanity, but in so many cases, crimes against family members and loved ones,” said Suzanne Meriden, executive director of the Syrian American Council. “We hope that this judgement will inspire additional victims of Assad's crimes to speak out.”

Colvin was deliberately assassinated by regime troops in February 2012 while covering the Assad regime's brutal siege on the Baba Amr neighborhood of Homs – a dark turning point in which the regime used artillery on populated areas for the first time.

The Syrian American Council salutes the Colvin family for pressing through a personal tragedy to seek justice and is grateful for the efforts of their legal team to bring the case to completion. We invite all Syrian-Americans directly victimized by the regime to reach out so that we can help them forward their cases to the appropriate parties.

Media Contact:

Michelle R. Taylor

[email protected]

312-919-2124

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caesar Bill Passes House Unanimously

The Syrian American Council celebrates passage of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in the House of Representatives and advocates its passing in the Senate

WASHINGTON D.C., January 23, 2019 – The Syrian American Council applauds the passage of the H.R. 31, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, on Tuesday by the House of Representatives, and supports the calls made by House Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) for the Senate to now pass the bill.

The legislation, which would hold Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable for his war crimes while limiting his ability to access funds from allies Russia and Iran, has been in the works for nearly three years with deep bipartisan support. Having passed this latest hurdle, the bill is expected to be considered by the Senate after the end of the partial U.S. government shutdown.

“After three years of advocating for this legislation, we are cautiously optimistic to see the Caesar bill taken up as one of the first measures by the new Congress,” said Suzanne Meriden, executive director of the Syrian American Council. “We are especially grateful to Congressmen Engel and McCaul for their leadership in passing this unique and important bipartisan legislation. The Syrian American Council and greater Syrian-American community will continue to work to ensure Caesar passes the Senate as well.”

The passage of H.R. 31 comes on the heels of the European Union imposing sanctions on 11 individuals and five companies for providing financial and other military assistance to the Assad regime.

“We are seeing a theme this week of sanctions imposed on the Assad regime and its allies and supporters, demonstrating that the international community is still largely unwilling to accept Assad as part of any legitimate solution in Syria,” added Meriden.

Media Contact:

Michelle R. Taylor

[email protected]

312-919-2124