Member of the political committee of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) and Coordinator of the Syrian National Commission for the Affairs of Detainees and Missing Persons, Salwa Aksoy, has condemned the Assad regime’s persistent refusal to adhere to international conventions against torture. Aksoy asserts that this noncompliance is part of a calculated and widespread strategy employed by the regime to terrorize the Syrian population and dissuade them from asserting their rights.
In a series of tweets, Aksoy highlighted the Assad regime’s violation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which it ratified in 2004. The regime’s transgressions, according to Aksoy, are systematic and far-reaching, with countless men, women, and children falling victim to its policies. She emphasized that the abundance of credible legal evidence, including witness testimonies, documents, and disturbing videos, substantiates these atrocities.
Aksoy also drew attention to the ongoing litigation proceedings between Canada, the Netherlands, and the criminal Assad regime. She stated that both Canada and the Netherlands, as plaintiffs, are obligated to invite regime authorities to negotiate compliance with the Convention against Torture. Should these negotiations prove futile, Aksoy explained that the two countries will need to resort to arbitration. In the event that the regime authorities fail to respond to these proposed solutions, the case will be referred to the International Court of Justice.
Furthermore, Aksoy underscored that the Assad regime’s violations extend beyond the Convention against Torture to other agreements, including those concerning the prohibition of chemical weapons and the rights of children and women. She criticized the regime’s enactment of laws intended to affirm its commitment to previous agreements, asserting that these laws remain ineffective, and the regime fails to adhere to constitutional articles and legislation designed to protect these rights.
Aksoy urged signatories of international conventions and treaties on human rights to follow the example set by Canada and the Netherlands by initiating legal proceedings against the Assad regime and holding Bashar al-Assad personally accountable for their blatant violations of these treaties and agreements.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
