Amnesty International Regional Director Heba Morayef has urged the Syrian authorities to take immediate action to protect civilians and prevent further killings and violations, amid reports of hundreds of Alawite minority civilians being killed in coastal areas.
Morayef said that swift and decisive action is needed to ensure that civilians are protected and perpetrators of crimes are held accountable. The failure to act would only embolden those who believe they can kill with impunity.
The Syrian government has a human rights obligation to uphold the equal rights of all Syrians, including by ensuring no person or group is targeted based on perceived political affiliation. Morayef warned that without openness and transparency in investigations, victims and the public will have little trust in the process.
Amnesty also called for independent investigators to be granted access to Syria’s coastal areas, as well as the government-led investigation to prioritize victims’ participation and deliver justice impartially.
The killing of over 973 civilians, mostly Alawites, has renewed calls for comprehensive steps by Syrian authorities to ensure truth, justice, and reparation for all victims. Amnesty emphasized that delivering these elements is crucial for both rectifying harms caused to victims and ensuring that such atrocities never happen again.
Source: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/syria-horrific-killings-of-civilians-on-northwest-coast-must-be-investigated