U.S. Senator calls to pass Syria Anti-Normalization Act ahead of Arab summit
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – American Senator called on Tuesday the U.S. Senate to pass the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act to strengthen and extend the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act ahead of the Arab League summit.
“The Syrian people have suffered far too long. The Senate must now step up and pass my Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act to strengthen and extend the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act,” stated U.S. Republican Senator Jim Risch, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The bill, which blocks the U.S. from normalizing relations with the government of Bashar al-Assad, was first introduced in May 2023 after the Arab League reintegrated Syria into the bloc on May 7, 2023, after more than 10 years of suspension.
The bill extends the Caesar Act, which imposes sanctions on the “Assad regime” and includes individuals and entities that provide support to the Baath party and the Syrian People’s Assembly (Parliament).
The Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 389-32 vote and needs to pass the Senate and be approved by the President to become an official law and enforced by the government.
Risch called to pass the Act to address the suffering of the Syrian people and hold the “Assad regime” responsible for its actions.
He pointed out it has been a year since Syria was readmitted into the Arab League, adding, “As expected, he [Bashar al-Assad] has failed to follow through on any promises he made.”
Senator Risch highlighted al-Assad’s deepening ties with Russia and Iran through military actions, leading to the displacement of “roughly 195,000 Syrians”, and involvement in “the $10 billion global illicit Captagon trade which directly funds the regime’s atrocities.”
“Assad has demonstrated he cannot be rehabilitated. I applaud efforts by the governments of Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland to hold the regime accountable for torture and war crimes,” Risch said.