EU sanctions Assad, senior Syrian officers
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Official Journal of the European Union has published a list of entities that would be subjected to restrictive measures against the background of committing violations of human rights, especially those of women’s rights. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and senior officers took part in the list.
The EU sanctioned nine persons and three entities in six countries: Afghanistan, Russia, South Sudan, Burma, Iran and Syria.
The sanctions included Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and five officers in the Syrian Republican Guard, for their involvement in committing violations of women’s rights.
The punished officers are Major General Shoaeb Suleiman, head of the Syrian Republican Guard, Brigadier General Muhammad Qasem, General Malik Aliaa, supreme commander at the guard, Major General Issam Zahreddine, Major General Muhammad Nayouf, and Muhammed Kaddor.
“The Syrian Republican Guard is an entity responsible for the security of officials and part of the Syrian security forces,” the EU statement said.
It added, “In its ranks, sexual and gender-based violence against women is widespread, particularly during the ongoing Syrian conflict. Victims have reported violent rapes and torture after arbitrary arrests and during arbitrary detention.”
The guard is a part “of a systematic approach by the Syrian regime to use sexual and gender-based violence to repress and intimidate the Syrian people, particularly women and girls.”