Press Statement
Syrian Coalition
Istanbul, Turkey
December 10, 2013
As the world celebrates International Human Rights Day, and as the Syrian revolution enters its 1000th day, Assad’s forces in Syria continue to carry out the most serious violations of human rights, supported by brainwashed mercenaries from Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire and continues to deteriorate. More than 3 million people are registered refugees at the UN, including 1 million children. Nearly 130.000 Syrians have been killed according to the United Nation’s latest figures, though real numbers are likely double or triple.
Around 250.000 civilians are trapped in different besieged areas across Syria including Homs, Aleppo, and Rural Damascus with no access of food, water, or medicine. Almost 8 million people in Syria live just above the poverty line but desperately struggle to get by, while 5 million people live in abject poverty. Six million Syrians were forced to leave their homes. Thousands of those with special needs were abused and hundreds of thousands have sustained permanent disabilities. More than 250.000 remain detained or missing, including hundreds of children. Thousands of detained female, male and child prisoners suffer rape and sexual abuse.
In one of the most horrible genocides of the 21st century, the Assad regime gassed more than 1400 innocent civilians to death in Ghouta, Damascus. However, Assad does not kill only with sophisticated weapons; during a period of 20 months, Assad’s Shabiha carried out 20 massacres using medieval weaponry, such as knives and cleavers to slaughter nearly 2885 civilians. Hundreds of women and children were slain, and entire families were erased.
The United Nations said there is compelling evidence implicating the regime, and furthermore, Bashaar al-Assad himself, in war crimes and crimes against humanity. The international community must take action to stop Assad’s brutal war against the Syrian people. During the past 33 months, every Syrian family has tasted the horror of the Assad regime. The Syrian people asked for their basic rights of freedom and dignity, and they should not be left alone to face the death and destruction brought on by a tyrannical regime.
We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.
Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.
