Syrian Coalition Welcomes Efforts to Refer the Syrian Case to ICC

Press Release

Syrian Coalition

May 13, 2014

The Syrian Coalition welcomes yesterday’s circulation by France of a draft resolution to UN Security Council members, which would see those suspected of committing violations in Syria referred to the International Criminal Court.

Unlike both the regime and extremists, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) does not have a policy of using force against civilians. On the contrary, it is made up of the fighting units that arose to offer protection to civilians against all forces that aim to suppress them.

The Coalition has always condemned atrocities committed in Syria regardless of their perpetrators or the motivation behind them. Last month, U.N. human rights commissioner Pillay told the Security Council that human rights violations by Assad’s forces "far outweigh" those by armed opposition groups. Also, it should be noted that by far the majority of violations committed by non-regime armed groups have been perpetrated by extremist groups like ISIS.

Last March, four “perpetrators lists” were submitted by Chair of the International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights identifying individuals and organizations responsible for war crimes in Syria.

Passing this resolution would not only be the first right step towards holding perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable, but would also challenge the sense of impunity prevailing currently in Syria. It would send a clear message to regime and extremist forces that they cannot continue to carry out acts of terror and human rights abuses against innocent men, women, and children in Syria.

May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.