Middle East Council of Churches to Biden: Stop punishment of Syrian people

Hamra, Lebanon, January 25, 2021

Photo: timesofisrael.com Photo: timesofisrael.com     

The Middle East Council of Churches has addressed President Joe Biden in a letter, calling for an end to the sanctions that harm the Syrian people and undermine their human rights and dignity.

The letter, signed by several religious, political, and social leaders, urges the president to immediately respond “to the severe humanitarian crisis in Syria” and work towards lifting the economic sanctions that have caused great suffering for the Syrian people for years now, reports the Council’s press service.

The economic, social, and health crises in the nation are getting worse by the day, states the letter.

The letter is based on the report of UN expert Alina Dohan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures and their negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights, which states that, “The violence and conflict affected terribly the Syrian people’s ability to enjoy their basic rights, massively destroying homes, medical units and other facilities.”

Donhan also notes that the US Penal Code that came into force last June specifically targets those who are attempting to help rebuild Syria. Continuing sanctions will only exacerbate the already dire situation, especially in the midst of the COVID pandemic, the Rapporteur warns.

The Council’s letter notes that in a matter of just 10 years, Syria has gone from the region’s breadbasket to the verge of starvation. Millions of Syrians “go to bed hungry and cold,” and the U.S.’s sanctions only increase their economic plight.

“We believe that the legitimate national interests of the United States can be pursued without collectively punishing the Syrian people by means of economic sanctions,” the letter concludes.

The Middle East Council of Churches includes the Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Cyprus, though the press service’s report does not indicate that their representatives were among the signatories of this letter.

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1/25/2021

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Comments
Fr Constantine Moore1/26/2021 8:55 pm
President Biden is suppose to be a Roman Catholic but he approves of abortion! How can that be? Abortion is murder. It kills a human being! Getting back to Syria. Syria has never been against the U S A. The U S A needs to get its troops out of other countries and stop the killing of men, women and children!
Paul F MD1/26/2021 8:05 am
Only Russia helps the Syrians. The US is willing to kill millions of children to accomplish there geopolitical goals in the Middle East. Judt another Madeline Albright moment.
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