Who is calling to lift sanctions on Syria - Syrians or the Assad regime? | DW News

The harshest sanctions on Syria yet were imposed at the end of 2019 by the US, after a Syrian military defector publicized striking evidence of the regime’s torture of prisoners. Since then, Syria has seen record price increases of more than 800% in the last two years. The UN estimates 90% of Syria’s population now lives below the poverty line. While there are many factors at play, research suggests that sanctions imposed by the US and EU are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis there.

Many Syrians who have witnessed the regime’s brutality first-hand, as well as families of victims, vehemently oppose calls to lift sanctions. They view it as the only way for the international community to hold Syria’s government accountable. US Sanctions have exemptions for humanitarian assistance, but anectodal evidence from NGO workers and Syrian migrants suggest over-compliance with regulations prevents or delays aid from reaching those in need - in the case of emergencies, every second of delay has a high humanitarian cost. Unilateral Sanctions are illegal according to international law. However, there is currently no clear legal way to prosecute Syria’s government as a whole. Syria’s ally Russia has continuously vetoed all UN Security Council resolutions that aim to hold Assad’s regime accountable.Additionally, Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court. After the earthquake, calls to lift sanctions on Syria flooded social media. Who is behind these calls?

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