Urgent Appeal Regarding Sectarian and Ethnic Atrocities Committed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Other Radical Actors in Syria
We address you with profound concern and a sense of utmost urgency regarding the alarming escalation of sectarian and ethnically motivated violence in Syria.
The radical group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and affiliated extremist actors are implementing a deliberate policy of persecution and extermination against Syria’s ancient and diverse communities—particularly in the southwest of the country. These systematic assaults have resulted in grave violations of individual and collective rights, targeting Alawite, christian Syriacs, and Druze populations.
Recent developments highlight the severity of the crisis:
- Over 1,500 Alawite civilians have reportedly been killed in targeted attacks.
- Christian neighborhoods have received threats declaring: “After the Alawites, you will be next.”
- Subsequently, 25 Christians were killed in a terrorist attack on the Mor Eliyas Church.
- Members of the Druze community are facing forced displacement, arbitrary executions, and systemic discrimination.
- Multiple credible reports confirm that HTS is imposing forced conversions to Islam, levying the jizya (a discriminatory religious tax), and expelling families from their homes.
A particularly disturbing case occurred in Homs: Mr. George Ishua, a member of the Syriac Orthodox Church, received a direct ultimatum—“Pay the jizya, convert to Islam, leave the country, or die.” He chose none of these, and was subsequently murdered in broad daylight outside his shop, in front of eyewitnesses.
These actions represent more than isolated acts of violence—they constitute an orchestrated campaign that not only endangers vulnerable communities but also violates the very principles upon which international law and the European Union are founded. They amount to hate crimes, religious persecution, and—by legal definition—crimes against humanity.
In light of this urgent situation, we respectfully call on the European Parliament and relevant EU institutions to undertake the following measures:
- Formally recognize and condemn HTS and all affiliated extremist entities for perpetrating sectarian and ethnic cleansing.
- Deploy an independent delegation of parliamentary observers to investigate the scale and nature of these systematic attacks.
- Ensure the immediate cessation of all direct or indirect support from the EU to HTS or any of its networks.
- Initiate proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), including the collection of witness testimonies and documentation of crimes.
- Investigate the operational collaboration between the Syrian Interim Government and HTS on the ground; reassess EU support mechanisms accordingly and apply sanctions where warranted.
- Establish an international protection and monitoring mechanism to safeguard all at-risk communities within Syria.
Furthermore, we feel compelled to raise serious concerns regarding certain proposals that have emerged in the context of ongoing negotiations for Syria’s future political structure. Some actors have suggested the reintroduction of a “Millet” system—arguing that it provided a functional framework under the Ottoman Empire. We firmly reject such a model. A system based on religious classification, even under the guise of administrative autonomy, is neither viable nor acceptable in a modern democratic state. It risks institutionalizing division, undermining equal citizenship, and entrenching sectarianism rather than overcoming it.
The future of Syria must be built on universal human rights, equal treatment under the law, and inclusive citizenship for all, regardless of religious or ethnic background. Religious identity must never again be used as a category to determine access to justice, safety, or political representation. Any model that does not uphold these principles is incompatible with the values of a pluralistic, rights-based society—and must be unequivocally dismissed.
This appeal is not solely about the plight of persecuted communities in Syria—it speaks to the fundamental values of Europe: human rights, freedom of belief, and the protection of cultural and religious diversity. Inaction would risk being perceived as silent complicity in the face of clear violations.
We trust in your commitment to these shared principles and urge immediate and decisive action.
