American Representatives urge President Biden to end Syrian regime sanctions exemptions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives have called on President Joe Biden not to extend the exemption from sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey last February.

Following the earthquake, the United States and the European Union announced a temporary easing of sanctions on the Syrian regime, granting a 180-day exemption for any transactions related to aiding earthquake victims.

As the end of the exemption period approaches, the American representatives conveyed their opposition to extending the exemption in a letter to the White House. They expressed their concerns that prolonged direct transactions with the Syrian regime could undermine the effectiveness of sanctions, especially given the humanitarian exceptions, such as Caesar’s Law, designed to protect civilians.

The representatives emphasized that the current exemption leaves room for bad actors to exploit the earthquake response in Syria for their own benefit. They pointed out that some countries have already welcomed the return of Bashar al-Assad and sought to invest in areas under his control.

The representatives urged that the exemption be effectively terminated on 8 August, to preserve the sanctions’ effectiveness and maintain the pressure on the Syrian regime. This move is aimed at holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations and ensuring a strong response to actions against civilian populations.