UN human rights chief calls for sanctions on Syria to be lifted

United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk has called for the lifting of Western sanctions on Syria on January 15th, according to The New Arab and agencies.
Türk made the remarks during a visit to Syria, where he underscored the importance of transitional justice for victims of the civil war.
“Revenge and vengeance are never the answer,” Türk said, a month after the Assad family’s decades-long rule ended with the capture of Damascus by insurgent groups. Türk stressed that these justice measures would strengthen public trust in state institutions as Syria transitions under new leadership.
Türk met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction now spearheading Syria’s interim government. According to Türk, al-Sharaa affirmed a commitment to respecting human rights for all Syrians and said authorities are prioritising social cohesion and institutional reform.
The Syrian conflict, which erupted in 2011, caused widespread devastation, left nearly half a million people dead, and displaced millions, many of whom have become refugees. Türk stressed that rebuilding Syria would require extensive international support. “The people of Syria need every ounce of help they can get to rebuild a country that works for all Syrians,” he said.
Türk also said: “It will be critical to bear in mind the impact sanctions have on the lives of the Syrian people,” and calling for sectoral sanctions to be urgently reconsidered.
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The European Union is set to discuss easing sanctions on Syria during a meeting on January 27th in Brussels. Six EU member states previously advocated for temporary relief measures.
A Syrian Interior Ministry official said on January 15th that Syrian authorities have detained an Egyptian militant, Ahmad al-Mansour, who reportedly vowed to work towards overthrowing the Egyptian government. Al-Mansour’s detention is likely to ease concerns in some Arab countries that Syria will not be used as a base to plot regional threats.
The New Arab