The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) warmly welcomed the joint complaint filed by the Netherlands and Canada against the Assad regime at the International Court of Justice. The charges include torture against Syrian civilians, the use of chemical weapons, arbitrary arrests, and grave human rights violations.
In a press release issued on Monday, the SOC commended this significant step and emphasized the importance of such actions, despite their delayed occurrence.
The SOC deeply appreciated all effective international endeavors aimed at holding the Assad regime accountable for the multitude of war crimes it has perpetrated against innocent people in Syria. It emphasized the imperative for the international community to adopt stringent measures to ensure the regime’s accountability, provide redress for the millions of victims, and facilitate a political transition in Syria in alignment with UN Resolution 2254.
The two countries have submitted a request to invoke the provisional measures in accordance with Article 41 of the ICJ’s Statute and Articles 73, 74, and 75 of the ICJ’s Regulations. The purpose of this request is to safeguard and uphold the rights enshrined in the Convention against Torture, which the regime persistently violates. Additionally, it aims to protect the lives, physical well-being, and mental integrity of individuals currently residing in Syria who are either presently subjected to or at imminent risk of torture, as well as other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
