Many massacres were committed by The Assads, both the father and the son, since the 1980s till this very moment. However, the chemical massacre was the most horrible one among all these crimes, not only because of the number of casualties, the weapon used, or the human tragedy it caused. But because it was committed under the eyes of the whole world in the time of globalization where pictures and videos were posted on the very same day showing the whole world the horror of what happened. Early hours of 21 August 2013, rebel-held parts of east and west Ghouta, just on the outskirts of Damascus, were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin by the Assad regime forces. 1,400 people died only within hours, more than a quarter of them were women and children. Estimates of the death toll range from 1,477 people to 1,729. 97% of the casualties were estimated to be civilians according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights and this attack was a war crime violating the Geneva Convention. Many families were unable to find their children because they were taken out in their sleepwear without personal IDs, or anything to indicate their identity. Despite all the allegations and attempts to evade, the responsibility of the Assad regime was very clear in terms of its possession of the known stockpiles of chemical weapons, the testimony of international observers, and the direct publication of its photos and documents. That day, the world was full of statements condemned the genocide, and many international officials, presidents and leaders of Western countries called for international action to punish the criminal regime that crossed the red line related to the use of chemical weapons. However, this is the 7th anniversary of that massacre, the criminal is still free committing other crimes and massacres using other weapons under the eyes of the whole world. In commemoration of the martyrs who died during that massacre, the Syrian British Council will hold a session about the massacre. This session will discuss the atrocities committed by the Assad regime and the options of accountability and justice focusing on the role of the Syrian diaspora in highlighting these violations and working with human rights and legal organizations to demand the development of mechanisms for accountability of the perpetrators.
The session will be held in English
When: Friday 21 August 2020 at 19:00 London time.
Venue: You can attend the seminar via the Zoom app or via the council’s Facebook page
Zoom link:
Facebook page:
