The EU has pledged €2.5 billion to Syria despite the ongoing massacre of Christians and minorities by jihadist groups linked to the new government, showcasing contradictory commitments to aid and human rights. The recent Brussels Conference raised a total of €5.8 billion while highlighting the troubling leadership of the new government and its violent history.
The European Union has pledged €2.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Syria amid ongoing atrocities perpetrated against Christians and minorities by jihadist groups linked to the new Syrian government. This commitment arose during the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, which concluded on March 17th, 2023, and resulted in a total funding promise of €5.8 billion for a country beleaguered by civil war since 2011. Contributions from individual nations included €300 million from Germany and €190 million from the United Kingdom.
The conference marked a notable absence of Bashar al-Assad’s government, having been toppled a year earlier by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist outfit formerly allied with Islamic State and Al Qaeda. However, EU leaders extended a welcome to the new government’s foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, in lieu of the regime’s previous representatives. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas labeled Assad’s regime a dictatorship but did not address the ongoing violence carried out by the current governance, asserting the need for all Syrians to live safely in peace.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope for a future Syria with equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of gender, faith, or ethnicity, denouncing sectarian violence. Despite this optimistic rhetoric, the EU has begun relaxing sanctions on Syria’s energy, transportation, and financial sectors, prompting skepticism regarding their commitment to human rights.
Critics argue that this optimism is unfounded and overlook the brutal realities, including HTS involvement in the tragic slayings of approximately 7,000 Christians and Alawites. Eyewitness social media accounts reveal horrifying instances of these communities being executed in cold blood. Notably, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new Syrian government leader, has a history with ISIS and previously led Al-Nusra Front. Asaad Hassan al-Shibani was complicit in the transition of Al-Nusra into HTS, which is classified as a terrorist organization by both the EU and the United Nations.
Furthermore, a recent European Parliament resolution endorsed the new Syrian government without condemning the associated militias’ actions, leaving many advocates for human rights deeply disappointed and questioning the intent behind the EU’s promises of aid.
In summary, the European Union’s pledge of €2.5 billion to aid Syria follows a concerning backdrop of violence and persecution against minority groups. This assistance emerged during a conference that recognized the leadership of an administration connected to jihadist groups. The lack of condemnation towards human rights violations raises critical questions regarding the EU’s genuine commitment to the welfare of Syrian citizens, amid calls for peace and egalitarian principles in the region.
Original Source: europeanconservative.com
