Protecting ethnic and religious diversity in Syria

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16110 | 30 January 2025

Signatories:

Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Mr Denis BEGIC, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Jone BLIKRA, Norway, SOC ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Ms Sevilay ÇELENK ÖZEN, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Christophe CHAILLOU, France, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Ms Heike ENGELHARDT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr Paul GAVAN, Ireland, UEL ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES, Spain, SOC ; Mr Petri HONKONEN, Finland, ALDE ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Ettore Antonio LICHERI, Italy, UEL ; Ms Jamila MADEIRA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Julian PAHLKE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Axel SCHÄFER, Germany, SOC ; Lord Don TOUHIG, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Derya TÜRK-NACHBAUR, Germany, SOC ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Considering the severe human rights violations and the ongoing persecution of religious and ethnic groups in Syria, particularly Kurds, Sunnis and Christians, there is an urgent need to ensure the protection of ethnic and religious diversity in this country to prevent future reprisals and discrimination. The conflicts and atrocities committed by the Assad regime have placed these minorities in a dangerous position, particularly the Kurds, who have been deliberately excluded from citizenship and therefore have no basic legal protection.

In view of the current political situation in Syria and the potential for further reprisals against religious and ethnic groups, it is vital to promote a peaceful and inclusive reconstruction following the fall of the regime.

This requires the establishment of a framework aimed at inclusion and equality, ensuring that all ethnic and religious groups enjoy equal rights and protection.

Documenting human rights violations and creating an international mechanism for accountability are important to ensuring that these violations do not go unpunished and can serve as a foundation for a just future. In this context, it is necessary that the Parliamentary Assembly continues to monitor developments in Syria and regularly assess how the protection of ethnic and religious minorities can be promoted. This will allow international efforts to be directed more effectively and support a durable and just peace process. Attention to the situation of religious and ethnic minorities must be increased within the Council of Europe to ensure that their rights and security are protected even in a post-Assad era.