HRC55: Oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the COI on Syria

Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President,

CSW thanks the Commission of Inquiry.

On 3 March, Turkish-allied de-facto authorities in northern Syria criminalised eating and drinking in public during Ramadan, which may negatively impact the vulnerable Yazidi community particularly.

CSW urges Turkey to ensure allied groups uphold freedom of religion or belief and end human rights abuses in areas they control.

Violations also continue in government-held areas.

On 28 February a 52-year-old man was shot and killed in Suwayda Province in the first death linked to anti-government protests which began in the Druze-majority region in August 2023 and have spread across southern Syria.

We condemn the use of armed force against peaceful protesters, including the reported shelling of Nawa city and elsewhere in Daraa governorate in August 2023.

Many protestors have been arbitrarily arrested or detained, joining thousands of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

We urge Syria to respect the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, to end arbitrary detentions and torture of political prisoners, and to release everyone detained for the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights.

There remains an urgent need to bring an end to the conflict in the country. Thus, we continue to urge all parties to cooperate with the COI and other mechanisms to ensure a resolution based on an inclusive Syrian identity, rule of law, human rights and accountability.

Thank you.