The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) deplored the meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, with the Assad regime’s Minister of Interior, Major General Muhammad al-Rahmoun, which took place on September 13th. The Network stressed that al-Rahmoun is involved in crimes against humanity and war crimes, adding that such a meeting harms the cause of Syrian refugees.
The Network pointed out that Al-Rahmoun is one of the most prominent security figures engaged in the planning and management of the Syrian regime’s internal security affairs. It added that he was listed on the sanctions list issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in early 2017.
“Al-Rahmoun was also added to the UK’s sanctions lists in 2019, due to his direct association with the regime’s chemical weapons program, and for being part of the chain of command responsible for issuing a series of orders related to chemical weapons attacks carried out by regime forces on several areas in Rif-Dimashq Governorate, in particular the Ghouta massacre in 2013 in which 1,127 people were killed.”
It stressed that any talk about the return of the forcibly displaced persons and refugees under the current conditions will risk putting more pressure on Syrian refugees and will amount to refoulment.
The Network called on the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to stop meetings with those involved in crimes against humanity and war crimes out of respect for the millions of Syrian refugees, stressing that the Commissioner should take the lead in defending refugees’ rights.
(Source: SOC’s media department)
