Secretary-General of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Haytham Rahmeh, condemned the violations committed by the Greek security forces and Coast Guard against Syrian asylum seekers, stressing that these actions violate international norms and conventions on the protection of asylum seekers.
Rahmeh pointed out that the international community must intervene urgently and effectively to protect Syrian asylum seekers who are trying to reach Europe in search of a decent life after the Assad regime forced them to flee and seek refuge abroad.
He pointed out that the new reports about the Greek Coast Guard’s deliberate sinking of refugee boats, beating survivors, and stealing their property, constitute a war crime.
Moreover, Rahmeh stressed that the main reason behind the Syrian citizens’ risking their lives and taking this perilous see journey is the Assad regime and its criminal clique who have forced Syrian civilians out of their homes by relentlessly bombing their cities and towns. He also said another reason is the harassment that Syrian refugees are being subjected to in some of the host countries.
“Syrians have the right to live in peace like the rest of the world’s peoples and to see an end to their long tragedy. They way out of this tragedy is clear: the international community’s assumption of its responsibility by enforcing UN Resolution 2254; achieving political transition; and holding the Assad regime and its allies accountable for their war crimes,” Rahmeh added.
(Source: SOC’s media department)