United States Commission on International Religious Freedom visits northeast Syria
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Delegation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed on Wednesday its support for Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and its values that “take into account freedom of religion, gender equality and human rights.”
This came during a press conference with United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chair Nadine Maenza and the co-chair of the Executive Board of Autonomous Administration.
“I came to Syria as an independent official. I’m here to show that the American people stand with North and East Syria,” Maenza said.
She added that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has made bold proposals to the US government to preserve freedom of religion in northeastern Syria.
Maenza noted that the Commission called on the US administration to involve the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in accordance with UN Resolution 2254.
They also called for expanding relations with the Autonomous Administration and its political recognition as a local government for Syria’s future, as well as lifting embargoes on the areas it administers.
“It is ironic to exclude a successful government that manages about one third of the country,” she said.
President Donald Trump appointed Maenza to the 2018 United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the highest government religious committee in the United States.
Mainza criticized Turkey in June during a virtual hearing attended by prominent regional experts to discuss the reality of religious freedoms in Ankara’s areas of control.
The decision to withdraw US troops from northeastern Syria last year was wrong, Maenza told North Press.