POMED Notes: Update on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria

On Monday, the Syrian Emergency Task Force hosted a Congressional briefing at the House of Representatives to discuss the ongoing humanitarian situation in Syria. The briefing was moderated by Cole Bockenfeld, advocacy director for the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED). The panel included Toby Cadman, human rights lawyer and legal council for the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and numerous witnesses who either experienced violence from the Assad Regime or had violence directed at their families. These witnesses included Dr. Hazam Hallak, a Syrian-American whose brother was killed by the regime, Abu Abdu a witness who was shot by the regime and Abu Azim, another witness who was also shot while participating in protests in Syria.

 For full event notes, continue reading. Or, click here for the PDF.

Bockenfeld opened up the panel with a brief overview of the humanitarian situation and the worsening condition. Bockenfeld also discussed the latest events regarding the continued international pressure being put on the regime, including the latest move by the Arab League to suspend Syrian membership – a step that has been taken before for other revolutions. Bockenfeld noted that some 3,500 people have been killed according to estimates by the United Nations and noted some areas in Syria that are experiencing serious violence at the hands of the regime- like the city of Homs. After this introduction, Bockenfeld opened the discussion to the panelists for brief opening statements.

Cadman opened up by discussing his work as a lawyer who specializes in international law and specifically the work he has been doing with the Syrian Emergency Task Force to collect evidence of crimes against humanity that have been committed by the Assad regime. According to Cadman, “the civil action here in the United States will only bring compensation under US civil law, but will be a great tool to pressure the regime. We are also looking to bring civil suits in the UK and across the EU to the same effect.” Cadman is also looking for ways to introduce a criminal suit against specific members of the Assad Regime, including President Bashar Al-Assad via the International Criminal Court. Cadman further explained that bringing a case before the ICC is complex and difficult to do, which is why “we need to bring together a compelling dossier to the ICC to go after the regime. We also want companies and corporations in breach of US and EU law to be prosecuted.”  Cadman has documented cases of extra-judicial killings and mass torture. Finally, Cadman noted that his firm was “in the process of bringing the first case before the court and more will be sure to follow.”

Hallak then spoke and told the story of what happened to his brother who was a very prominent doctor from Syria.  Hallak explained how his brother had come to the United States to visit him and when he returned back to Syria he and a number of other doctors were told by the regime to sign an order refusing to treat patients who were anti-government protesters: “when my brother refused to sign an order saying doctors wouldn’t provide treatment to activists -because you cannot take an x-ray in Syria without the permission of the government- Syrian intelligence kidnapped, tortured him, and killed him and dumped his body 20km from his house.” Hallak stated that he later learned that the coroner “cried as he did the autopsy as he had never seen such torture. The government wanted all the doctors to come and visit his body to show what happened to him to make them afraid. The prime minister of Syria called my father and told him that Mossad killed my brother. They asked my parents to come on Syrian television and say that Mossad killed him.”

Hallak concluded by explaining that the Assad Regime maintains two narratives; one narrative inside Syria which is designed to terrorize people into silence by making examples of people like his brother and a second narrative for the international community where they say that there is an international conspiracy and that people like Hallak’s brother are killed by thugs and foreign conspirators. Hallak later learned that another doctor who was helping protesters was told that he would go the way of Hallak’s brother if he continued to treat wounded protesters.

Abdu spoke next, discussing his story and the events leading up to being shot by paramilitary thugs loyal to the regime. Abdu is from the city of Homs, and has “been part of the demonstrations since the beginning. Women, men and children all participate in the protests [in Homs].” Abdu asserts that he “was shot by either security forces or forces paid by the government” because he used to transport food and medicine to places that had none within the city and helped open hidden field hospitals to treat wounded protesters since going to a government hospital was dangerous and most private hospitals had been closed.  Anyone caught in these hospitals is arrested or killed. Abdu then spoke of the general crimes the Regime is committing, using Homs as an example: “they are taking and raping girls and women. More than twenty people I know have been killed. I was trying to transport a friend who was wounded and they shot six bullets into our car. They like children, the snipers. Most of my friends who have been caught they disappeared or they come out tortured. If they see you carrying any medication or food you get shot or arrested. If they catch anybody, they torture you and give you a paper to memorize and then put them on television to confess.”

Azim spoke last, describing the circumstances under which he was shot while participating in a peaceful protest. Azim stated that he was from the port-city of Lattakia and “started protesting in my city because two of my friends were caught protesting.” Azim was shot during a protest in the leg: “After I got shot, my friends helped to take me to the hospital. I have a metal plate in my right leg. I got shot by a sniper while I was protesting in the front [of the demonstration]. I have many friends who are dead and many in jail. I escaped to Turkey and from there, made it to the US where I live now.”

After these remarks, the panel opened the event for questions. Questions ranged from a discussion of the possible role of international observers to the military strategy of the regime and why there was a focus on the city of Homs. Cadman responded to the first question, explaining that international observers were important “for us to understand and document what’s happening on a day-to-day basis. What we are very concerned about -withdrawing the embassy staff- is that it puts Syria into a black hole where we really don’t know what’s going on. We need an international presence.” Cadman also noted that SETF was advocating for a no-fly zone and noted that “people who say its not possible, that’s not good enough. The no-fly zone is absolutely essential. Implement the no-fly zone and the military will fall is what we are being told…currently the international response has had no impact.” Abdu noted that the focus on Homs is because “all of Homs is coming out [to protest]. They think they can force us not to protest. They hate us for saying we don’t want you. They think they will make an example of us, but it won’t stop until the last man, we will never stop.” Abdu also noted that Free Syria Army –army defectors battling the regime- are also present in Homs.

Finally, the panel was asked what Congress can do to help. Cadman responded that he, along with SETF were planning to put together “a number of specific requests to Congress and to the US administration on areas that are already being focused on.” One of these requests would be that US corporations who are responsible or may be responsible for supplying technology to the regime that was used against protesters be prosecuted. Cadman also stated that “we need support from the administration so that the UNSC adopts a sensible resolution that has a comprehensive set of measures. We hope the US will continue to give its strong support as it has done thus far.”