Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: EU imposes restrictive measures on five Syrian individuals associated with the former Assad regime for supporting crimes against humanity and for fueling sectarian violence

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23 June 2025 14:18

Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: EU

imposes restrictive measures on five Syrian

individuals associated with the former Assad

regime for supporting crimes against humanity

and for fueling sectarian violence

The Council today imposed restrictive measures under the European Union Global

Human Rights Sanctions regime on five persons responsible for serious human

rights violations and abuses in Syria including involvement in the violence in the

coastal region of Syria in March 2025 and supporting the use of chemical weapons

against the civilian population under the al-Assad regime.

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The new listings target three former members of the Syrian Republican Guard and

Armed Forces responsible for many serious human rights violations under the alAssad regime -including torture, extrajudicial killings and other cruel treatment of

prisoners – and involved in the wave of violence that took place in March 2025

After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Miqdad Fatiha Ghaith Dalla and Suhayl alHasan formed militias that fueled sectarian tensions and incited violence, which

escalated and resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.

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Furthermore, the Council listed two prominent businessmen Mudalal Khoury and

Imad Khoury who supported the former al-Assad regime and represented its

business and financial interests in Russia, helping finance the severe crimes against

humanity committed under the al-Assad regime, including the use of chemical

weapons.

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Those listed are subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic

resources directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited

Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to them.

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The Council will continue monitoring developments on the ground and stands ready

to introduce further restrictive measures against human rights violators and those

fuelling instability in Syria.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals, have been

published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime established on 7 December 2020

enables the EU to target individuals, entities and bodies – including state and nonstate actors – responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights

violations and abuses worldwide. With the latest updates, the restrictive measures

currently apply to 123 persons and 36 entities

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On 4 December 2023 the Council prolonged the framework for restrictive measures

under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for three years until 8 December

2026 The listings under the regime expire and are reviewed every 12 months.

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The EU follows the developments in this domain closely and, as a result, ensures

that the listings are kept under constant review.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1255 of 23 June 2025 amending Decision (CFSP)

2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights

violations and abuses

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1256 of 23 June 2025

implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures

against serious human rights violations and abuses

Consolidated text: Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020

concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and

abuses (20 February 2025)

Syria: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union

on the recent wave of violence (press release, 11 March 2025)

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Sanctions against human rights violations (background information)

Timeline Sanctions against human rights violations (background information)

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Visit the meeting page

Press contacts

Maria Daniela Lenzu

Press officer

+32 470 88 04 02

+32 2 281 21 46

@daniela_lenzu

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you are not a journalist, please send your request to the public information service

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Human rights

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Last review: 24 June 2025

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بيان صحفي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بفرض عقوبات بموجب النظام العالمي لعقوبات حقوق الإنسان على خمسة أشخاص مرتبطين بنظام الأسد السابق، لتورطهم في انتهاكات منها أحداث الساحل في آذار/ مارس 2025 ودعم استخدام الأسلحة الكيميائية.