Syria Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity
Nov. 28, 2011
The security forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have committed systematic “crimes against humanity” in their months-long crackdown on antigovernment protesters, the United Nations reported today in a study prepared by an independent panel. According the panel’s findings, civilians, including children, have been arrested arbitrarily, tortured, and murdered. In the latest violence, at least 23 people were killed across Syria during demonstrations yesterday.
In response to the violence used against its own people, the Arab League, by a vote of 19-to-3, imposed economic sanctions against the government of Syria. The sanctions freeze Syrian government assets held in league member states; cut off transactions with the Syrian central bank; halt funding by Arab governments for projects in Syria; ban senior Syrian officials from traveling to member states; and ban commercial flights between Syria and member states. While not a member of the Arab League, Turkey volunteered to act in accordance with the sanctions. According to United Nations estimates, as many as 3,500 people have died since the demonstrations began in March.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has come under severe international criticism for his government's continuing attacks on protesters demanding more political freedom. AP/Wide World
On November 14, Jordan’s King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to openly call on Assad to leave office. In a BBC interview, Abdullah declared, “If Bashar [al-Assad] had an interest in his country he would step down.” The king went on to say that if he were in Assad’s position, he would make sure “whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo (the existing state of affairs).”
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