Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
May 12, 2023
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) warmly welcomes the United States’ ongoing efforts to pass a bill aimed at preventing normalization with the Assad regime, expanding the Caesar Act, and refusing recognition of any government led by the war criminal Bashar al-Assad. Recognizing the urgency to counteract the accelerated normalization and restoration of relations with the Assad regime, the SOC emphasizes the critical importance of swiftly enacting this bill.
The SOC wholeheartedly supports any measures that increase pressure on the Assad regime and its backers. We earnestly call upon the United States and the international community to intensify their efforts in seeking accountability and ensuring that the Assad regime does not evade punishment for the multitude of war crimes committed against the Syrian people.
It is abundantly clear that normalization with the Assad regime will fail to serve the interests of the Syrian people, undermine their demands, and hinder the interests of neighboring nations. Furthermore, such normalization would embolden the Assad regime to further destabilize the security and stability of both sister and friendly countries. Granting normalization would effectively provide a green light for the regime to continue committing atrocities without consequence. This highlights the utmost significance of enacting the bill during this critical stage.
The SOC urges all nations to isolate the criminal Assad regime and extend support to the Syrian people by diligently implementing UN resolutions, particularly resolutions 2254 and 2118. It is imperative to actively pursue a genuine political transition without wasting time by providing opportunities for the Assad regime to empower itself and evade punishment.
