Kahraman and Ceder call for reintroduction of sanctions against Syria if violence against Druze continues

THE HAGUE — The deadly violence against the Druze in the southern Syrian province of Suweida has caused great concern for Dutch parliamentarians Isa Kahraman (New Social Contract) and Don Ceder (ChristianUnion). Druze constitute a majority in Suweida. The two parliamentarians are closely monitoring the minorities dossier in Syria and have again submitted questions to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice about the role of the Syrian government, its president, and its allied militias in the violence that has been raging in Suweida since 13 July.  

Kahraman and Ceder argue that the “transitional government demonstrably fails to meet the strict conditions set by the Tweede Kamer, i.e. guaranteeing security and equal rights for all minorities, including Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Kurds.”

They ask for rigorous measures by the Dutch government to protect the smaller ethnic and religious components of Syria. They advocate for the reimposition of sanctions if the “intimidation, terror, and massacres” against Druze, Alawites, and other smaller population groups continues— Kahraman and Ceder expicitely point to research by news agency Reuters that shows that government forces were involved in the killing of 1,500 Alawites in March of this year. Moreover, the Dutch government can halt further normalization of diplomatic relations with the “Syrian regime,” designate the ethnic and religious components as “vulnerable groups”, and provide direct aid to them, the two MPs propose.

Related: MPs Ceder and Kahraman: Dutch government must take decisive action within the EU to protect the rights of religious and ethnic groups in Syria

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) the death toll from the conflict has risen to nearly 1,000 since it broke out on July 13. US special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack yesterday announced on his X-account that “all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities.” The announcement of ceasefires in the conflict has not proven very convincing, as all of them have been violated so far.

Alo read: Netherlands MP Isa Kahraman: Rising violence against Christians in Syria cannot be tolerated