To the European Union, the United States of America, the United Nations, and International Humanitarian Organizations:
A grave and urgent humanitarian crisis is unfolding in North and East Syria. Reliable information from the region indicates that massacres targeting civilians are ongoing and that the situation is worsening day by day.
Over the past 15 years, Syriacs, Kurds, Arabs, and Armenians in North and East Syria have waged a tremendous struggle together against terrorist organizations, foremost among them ISIS. Thousands of people have lost their lives in this struggle. These peoples have defended not only their own lands, but also humanity and global security.
However, at the present stage, the interim administration in Damascus and the radical armed groups acting in coordination with it are carrying out widespread and systematic attacks and massacres against Kurds, Syriacs, and all peoples living in North and East Syria. Civilians are being directly targeted, people are being forcibly displaced, and countless innocent lives are being lost. These acts clearly constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.
One of the most painful and dangerous developments is the raiding of ISIS detention camps that had previously been kept under control, the release of thousands of ISIS members held in these camps, and their re-arming and participation -together with HTS elements -in attacks and massacres. This situation significantly increases the risk of these terrorist elements once again spreading throughout Syria, the region, and the world. This development poses an extremely serious threat to international peace and security.
This course of events cannot be left to the initiative of the interim administration in Damascus and Turkey-backed radical armed groups. The crimes and massacres committed over the past year by the groups that have taken over the administration in Damascus are well documented. Systematic oppression, violence, and policies of impunity against minorities are among the main causes of the current situation. Attacks against Alawites, Druze, and Christians including the massacre at the Mor Elias Church in Damascus -have been carried out by HTS forces and affiliated structures. The failure to hold perpetrators accountable has paved the way for new and even more severe crimes.
For this reason, it is of great importance that the international community exert serious, concrete, and binding pressure on the Damascus administration and the government of Turkey, and that those responsible for these attacks -as well as the structures supporting them -be held accountable. Crimes against humanity committed in Syria do not threaten Syria alone; they pose a serious security risk that directly affects Europe, the Middle East, and the entire world. The ISIS threat has not ended; on the contrary, it is being deliberately revived before the eyes of the world.
Therefore, as the European Syriac Union, we call on relevant international institutions, states, and governments to urgently take action to prevent a new internal war that could last for many years. We advocate for the resolution of problems through peaceful dialogue and on the basis of respect for identities and differences. On this basis, we call on international institutions and public opinion to support the recognition of the Syriac people s national identity and the establishment of constitutional guarantees securing all their rights.
Our demands:
- Immediate action by the international community to stop the ongoing attacks.
- International protection for the civilian population in North and East Syria.
- The immediate halt of massacres and the prosecution of those responsible before international courts.
- Urgent intervention by coalition forces against developments that enable ISIS to reorganize.
- The implementation of concrete measures to protect the Syriac people from attacks by jihadist groups.
