Caabu Director Chris Doyle has written to the Foreign Secretary, calling for the lifting of UK sanctions on Syria.
Dear Foreign Secretary
Given the historic events in Syria over the last two months, we would like to write to you regarding the transition away from the Assad regime and how the UK can help. In particular, we believe that the UK should consider the immediate lifting of all sanctions that impact the Syrian economy (e.g. in financial, energy and trade sectors) and urge other states to do likewise, especially USA and EU.
These sanctions, while intended to pressure the former Syrian regime, have had severe and unintended consequences on the civilian population who have suffered so much not just over the last 13 years but over 50 years of Assad domination.
Essential goods such as food, medicine, and fuel have become scarce and prohibitively expensive, leading to widespread malnutrition, lack of medical care, and a general decline in living conditions. The most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, and the sick, are bearing the brunt of these measures.
Lifting sanctions should not include lifting travel bans and asset freezes on individuals connected to the former Assad regime. They must fact justice for their actions.
Consideration should be given to inclusion of a snapback mechanism to be triggered in the event of major human rights violations and wilful lack of progress towards inclusive governance and core human rights standards. All sanctions on military, security and surveillance equipment likely to be used in internal repression should remain in place.
The lifting of sanctions should not diminish legitimate concerns about the direction and pace of transition in Syria. Sadly, we have yet to see the inclusive transition that you have called for nor signs of genuine power sharing. This is vital if any transitional authority is going to succeed in taking Syria forward and away from conflict.
A major area of concern is the security sector. A genuine fear among Syrians is that both the military and the security services have become servants not of the state and all Syrians but the factions in power. The UK and its partners must do all in its power to ensure that this is reversed and these vital institutions become national in character and thereby gaining the confidence of all components of Syrian society.
The transition is in a very delicate state. Whilst Syrians want this transition and fear the return to strife in their war-ravaged country, they need it to be inclusive and for the benefit of all. Britain can play a positive role in encouraging this process but also removing the obstacles to allowing the economy to get back on its feet.
Yours sincerely
Chris Doyle
Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding
