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STORY: OHCHR / SYRIA SUWEIDA VIOLENCE - ARABIC
TRT: 02:41
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: None
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NTAS
DATELINE: 18 JULY 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Various shots, exterior, Palais Wilson headquarters of UN Human Rights
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Syria’s interim authorities must ensure accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the city of Suweida. Credible reports received by the UN Human Rights Office indicate widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and lootings of homes, in addition to humiliating acts. Among the reported perpetrators were members of security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities, as well as other armed elements from the area. This bloodshed must stop. There must be independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations, and those responsible must be held to account. Incitement to violence and hate speech must also be stopped, an there should be immediate steps to prevent recurrence of such violence. We have received accounts of Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones. The deployment of State security forces should bring safety and protection, not add to the fear and violence. We are also concerned by reports of civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the center of Damascus. Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects, and they must cease. Syria also needs a thorough, urgent and independent vetting process to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses are not integrated into the official security or military structures. With the fall of the former government, Syrians have witnessed a moment of hope for a better future based on human rights. It is the responsibility of the interim authorities to demonstrate that this chapter will be defined by rights, justice, and equal protection for all.”
3. Various shots, exterior, Palais Wilson headquarters of UN Human Rights
“Syria’s interim authorities must ensure accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the city of Suweida,” UN human rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said.
In a statement, Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said, “Credible reports received by the UN Human Rights Office indicate widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and lootings of homes, in addition to humiliating acts.”
“Among the reported perpetrators were members of security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities, as well as other armed elements from the area,”
Al-Kheetan added.
He reiterated, “This bloodshed must stop. There must be independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations, and those responsible must be held to account.”
The human rights Spokesperson stressed, “Incitement to violence and hate speech must also be stopped, an there should be immediate steps to prevent recurrence of such violence.”
He continued, “We have received accounts of Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones. The deployment of State security forces should bring safety and protection, not add to the fear and violence.”
Al-Kheetan also expressed concern by reports of civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the center of Damascus.
“Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects, and they must cease,” the Spokesperson said, adding that “Syria also needs a thorough, urgent and independent vetting process to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses are not integrated into the official security or military structures.”
“With the fall of the former government, Syrians have witnessed a moment of hope for a better future based on human rights. It is the responsibility of the interim authorities to demonstrate that this chapter will be defined by rights, justice, and equal protection for all,” Al-Kheetan concluded.
