The world breathed a collective sigh of relief when news broke that Syria’s brutal fourteen-year civil war was over. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship felt like the long-awaited dawn after a dark and bloody night. Yet, our new report reveals, this new day is perilous, especially for the ancient religious and ethnic minorities who call Syria home. While the new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, presents a moderate face to the West, the facts on the ground tell a story of escalating violence and fear. This is not a time for naive optimism, but for principled action and determined hope.
Where Syria President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Forces Mobilize; Death & Destruction Follows
The southern Syrian city of Suwayda has been enduring a wave of attacks from Islamist militias turned Syrian national army. Dozens are dead and churches have been burned.
Today One Free World International (OFWI) is releasing a urgent report “Syria’s New Chapter: A Perilous Dawn for Minorities Under Al-Sharaa's Rule.”
Western governments, however, have decided that it is in their interests to support al-Sharaa. OFWI believes that this is a serious mistake and al-Sharaa’s claimed moderation is a mere tactical position. As a result, this report puts forward several recommendations to support minorities in Syria and hold al-Sharaa and his authorities accountable.
To realize a secure Syria that upholds human rights for all of its citizens, OFWI is offering the following recommendations:
We need to face a hard truth: as long as the people of Iran are repressed and live under the tyranny of the Islamic theocrats, there will be no peace in the Middle East, no end to terrorism, and no real security for the world.
Read Rev. El Shafie on what’s next for Iran.