Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1255 of 23 June 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

23.6.2025

2025/1255

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1255

of 23 June 2025

amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights

violations and abuses

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)

On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 (1).

(2)

On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and

Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights

Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and

protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the

Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide.

Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for

human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union

and its common foreign and security policy.

(3)

In March 2025, a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal region created a high number of victims, including many

civilians. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union in which the Union

condemned the horrific crimes committed against civilians, including arbitrary killings. Furthermore, actors related

to the former al-Assad regime continue to play a destabilising role and are responsible for or provide support for

serious human rights violations or abuses in Syria.

(4)

In that context, five persons should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in the

Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.

(5)

Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 23 June 2025.

For the Council

The President

K. KALLAS

(1)

Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations

and abuses (OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/1999/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1255/oj

1/4

EN

2/4

ANNEX

In the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999, the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:

Names (Transliteration into

Latin script)

‘121.

Miqdad Lu’ay FATIHA

Names

Identifying information

‫ ﻣﻘﺪﺍﺩ ﻟﺆّﻱ ﻓﺘﻴﺤﺔ‬DOB: 19.6.1989

a.k.a. Miqdad FATIHA,

‫ ﻣﻘﺪﺍﺩ ﻓﺘﻴﺤﺔ‬POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria

Miqdad FUTAIHA, Abu

Nationality: Syrian

Jafar, Abu Jaafar, Abu Ja’ (Arabic spelling)

afar

Gender: male

Address: Syria/Lebanon

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

Miqdad Fatiha is a former member of the Syrian Republican Guard, which has

since been disbanded. In this role he has been responsible for many serious

human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel treatment

of prisoners.

23.6.2025

After the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024, Miqdad Fatiha has

formed militias in the coastal regions of Syria, stoking sectarian tensions and

inciting violence. Units under his command were involved in the March 2025

sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of

hundreds of civilian lives.

As the leader of the militias, Miqdad Fatiha is therefore responsible for serious

human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel, inhuman

and degrading treatment.

122.

Ghaith DALLA

‫ ﻏﻴﺎﺙ ﺳﻠﻴﻤﺎﻥ ﺩﻻ‬DOB: 31.7.1971

‫ ﻏﻴﺎﺙ ﺳﻠﻴﻤﺎﻥ ﺩّﻻ‬POB: Beit Yashout, Syria

a.k.a. Ghiath Suleiman

DALLA, Ghyath DALLA,

(Arabic spelling)

Ghayth DALLA

Nationality: Syrian

Ghaith Dalla is a former Brigadier General with Syria’s notorious Fourth Army

Division during the al-Assad regime. In this role, he has been responsible for

many serious and well-documented human rights violations or abuses,

including extrajudicial killings and cruel punishment by way of starvation.

23.6.2025

After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Ghaith Dalla went on to establish and

lead the “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” in March 2025. His

Associated individuals: Maher

militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal

Al-Assad

region of Syria. Ghaith Dalla’s units were involved in the March 2025

Associated entities: Fourth Division sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of

hundreds of civilian lives.

of the Syrian Army, Military

Council for the Liberation of Syria Therefore, Ghaith Dalla is responsible for serious human rights violations or

abuses.

Gender: male

OJ L, 23.6.2025

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1255/oj

Names

Suhayl AL-HASAN

‫ ﺳﻬﻴﻞ ﺳﻠﻤﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﺴﻦ‬DOB: 10.6.1970

a.k.a. Suhail Salman

AL-HASAN, Suhail

AL-HASSAN

(Arabic spelling)

Identifying information

POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria

Nationality: Syrian

Gender: male

Address: Tartus, Syria

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

Suhayl al-Hasan is a Former Commander of Division 25 Special Mission

Forces of the Syrian armed forces under the al-Assad regime. In this role, as

well as in the numerous other positions he held in the Syrian Armed Forces,

he has committed and overseen countless severe human rights violations or

abuses that include torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests. He is

also reported to have overseen the deployment of chemical weapons.

23.6.2025

OJ L, 23.6.2025

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1255/oj

123.

Names (Transliteration into

Latin script)

After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Suhayl al-Hasan went on to establish the

“Coastal Shield Brigade” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian

tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Suhayl al-Hasan’s

units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region

of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.

Therefore, Suhayl al-Hasan is responsible for serious human rights violations

or abuses.

124.

Mudalal KHOURY

‫ ﻣﺪﻟﻞ ﺧﻮﺭﻱ‬DOB: 18.6.1957

a.k.a. Madalal (Mtanyus) (Arabic spelling)

KHURI, Mudallal

KHOURY, Mudallal

KHOURI

POB: Homs, Syria

Nationality: Syrian, Russian

Gender: male

Address: Moscow

Mudalal Khoury is a Syrian-Russian businessman operating from Russia. He is

one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad

regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and

chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Mudalal Khoury

represented the regime’s business and financial interests in Russia. Amongst

other things, he provided front companies to be used for the al-Assad regime’s

chemical and ballistic weapons programmes.

23.6.2025

Associated individual: Imad Khoury Therefore, Mudalal Khoury has provided financial, technical and material

support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes

against humanity.

EN

3/4

125.

Imad KHOURY

a.k.a. Emad KHOURY,

Mtanyus KHURY,

KHURI, KHOURI

Names

Identifying information

‫ ﻋﻤﺎﺩ ﺧﻮﺭﻱ‬DOB: 3.10.1964

(Arabic spelling)

Nationality: Syrian, Russian

Gender: male

Associated individual: Mudalal

Khoury

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

Imad Khoury is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who

supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used

barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria,

Imad Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests.

Amongst other things, he founded a company that was part of a money

laundering scheme supporting the al-Assad regime. In this way, together with

his brother Mudalal Khoury, he helped finance the severe crimes against

humanity committed under the al-Assad regime.

23.6.2025’.

EN

4/4

Names (Transliteration into

Latin script)

Therefore, Imad Khoury has provided financial, technical and material

support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes

against humanity.

OJ L, 23.6.2025

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1255/oj

قرار من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بتعديل النظام العالمي لعقوبات حقوق الإنسان بإدراج أشخاص مرتبطين بنظام الأسد السابق لدورهم في موجة العنف في الساحل السوري في آذار/ مارس 2025، منهم: غياث دلا، مدلل خوري، عماد خوري، مقداد فتيحة.