US committed to prosecute perpetrators in Syria – State Department
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The US Department of State said on Thursday it is committed to prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses in Syria.
“Along with our allies and partners, the United States will continue our unwavering support to promote respect for the dignity and human rights of all Syrians,” Matthew Miller, Department spokesperson said in a press statement.
The statement came after the US Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two factions and three leaders of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), for committing serious human rights abuses against those residing in Afrin region, northwest Syria, particularly the Kurds.
“After twelve years of immense suffering, Syrians continue to face human rights abuses at the hands of many parties to the conflict,” Miller added.
The OFAC designated Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat), Hamza Division, al-Amshat leader Muhammad Hussein al-Jassem (Abu Amsha), his younger brother Walid Hussein al-Jassem, Hamza leader Saif Abu Bakr, and the Istanbul-headquartered al-Safir Oto, a car dealership owned by Abu Amsha, for committing “serious human rights abuses” against the people of Afrin, mainly the Kurds.
“Today’s actions demonstrate the United States’ commitment to promoting accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses in Syria no matter the actor and to advancing justice for victims and survivors of these abuses,” Miller noted.
Earlier on Friday, the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) welcomed the US decision to sanction some “mercenary factions for committing war crimes in Afrin,” saying that the decision remains insufficient regarding the rights of the people of Afrin and bringing the desperate situation to an end.
The al-Amshat and Hamza are two SNA factions affiliated with Ministry of Defense of the opposition Syrian Interim Government. The practices of the two factions have exacerbated the suffering of the people of Afrin, mainly the Kurds,