USCIRF recommends to help AANES to support religious freedom in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) suggested on May 1, in its 2024 annual report to the U.S. government to help the Autonomous Administration on North and East Syria (AANES) to support religious freedom in Syria.
The USCIRF’s report recommended to the U.S. government to “fully implementing General License No. 22 in areas the AANES governs and encouraging the inclusion of the AANES in a political solution to the Syrian conflict,” to support religious freedom in Syria.
The annual report, which provides recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad, highlighted that religious freedom conditions in Syria remained poor in 2023, and many violations mainly occurred in areas under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Font), the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Moreover, the report pointed out to assist the efforts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) “to ascertain the whereabouts of kidnapped and missing Yazidi women and girls.”
The USCIRF called for using diplomatic measures in multilateral fora to help the distribution of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to communities in need, including religious minority groups.
Additionally, the report recommended to include Syria in the Special Watch List for engaging or tolerating severe violation of religious freedom.
It also recommended imposing targeted sanctions on agencies of the Syrian government, HTS principles, and SNA leaders “responsible for violations of religious freedom.”