Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition – Syria
Department of Media and Communications
August 21, 2020
Today marks the seventh anniversary of the deadly chemical attack the Assad regime launched against civilians in eastern Ghouta with the use of chemical weapons.
The anniversary of this heinous crime testifies not only to the brutality of the Assad regime and its backers, but also to the dysfunctional international system which allowed the crime to take place and the perpetrators to get away with this crime. This system even allowed the perpetrators to commit more crimes using the same means despite the hollow statements, threats and red lines that the super powers drew for the regime.
The international community struck a shameful deal under which the criminal surrendered the tool of the crime but which allowed him to get away with his crime. Moreover, it soon turned out that the deal was a total fiasco as the regime resumed the use chemical weapons, including sarin agent on several occasions.
The report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, issued in April of this year, confirmed the Assad regime’s responsibility for the use of sarin in violation of UN Security Council resolution 2118. This requires international action under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in line with Article 21 of the resolution.
August 21st also marks the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. Today also marks the fourth anniversary of the regime’s deadly attack on Ma’arat al-Naasan and the eighth anniversary of the regime’s crime in Daraya which claimed the lives of hundreds of people. For the Syrian people, calendar has turned into a series of anniversaries of crimes and disasters that he regime brought to the country.
We renew our offer of condolences to the families of the victims, the majority of whom were women and children. We demand that these crimes be referred to the International Criminal Court and that swift action be taken to put an end to the Assad regime and its backers’ crimes against the Syrian people.
