Many victims were Alawite, a minority community in Syria, to which the former Assad family belonged.
Some members of the community were said to have been killed in March by forces or individuals faithful to the new management of the country, the National Transitional Authority, led by interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
In response to “the arrest operation” launched on March 6, fighters faithful to the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad responded by capturing, killing and injuring hundreds of temporary government forces, the commissioners said.
The looting was also widespread, while the houses were on, leaving tens of thousands of displaced civilians, the commissioners continued.
In total, around 1,400 people were reported in the massacres that followed, mainly civilians.
“The vast majority were adult men, but the victims included around 100 women, the elderly and the disabled, as well as the children”, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria said.
Always a target
He also warned that The Allawite community which has formed the former power base of Mr. Al-Assad is still targeted today. Alawites represent around 10% of the majority Sunni country.
According to the latest report by the commissioners, the victims killed in March were murdered and tortured, while the bodies of the dead were also mutilated.
They added that certain acts had been filmed and published on social networks, as well as images of abused and humiliated civilians.
The President of the United Nations Panel, Paulo Pinheiro, condemned the scale and brutality of the violence which would have involved men allawites identified and distinguished before being taken to be slaughtered and killed in multiple villages and mainwites of the majority Allawites.
“” The bodies were left in the streets for daysFamilies prevented burials in accordance with religious rites, while others have been buried in joint pits without appropriate documentation, “said the commissioners’ report.
Meanwhile, hospitals have become overwhelmed “while corpses accumulated”.
Eyewitness
The latest report of the Commission is based on in -depth investigations, including more than 200 interviews with victims and witnesses, especially in Latakie and Tartus.
Investigators also visited three mass sites and met senior officials from the Syrian government.
Today, the Allawites communities still live in fear and face women in women, arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances and looting and the occupation of their property, noted the investigators.
Protection must be a priority
They should be protected by the new authorities in charge of Syria, insisted the commissioners.
“” Affected communities must see an urgent action to increase their protection. Beyond the reference of the alleged perpetrators in criminal justice, individuals suspected of participation in violations at the events of March should be immediately withdrawn from active functions awaiting the investigation, “said Commissioner Lynn Welchman.
In addition, the screening processes must be extended so that the authors known or suspected of serious violations in the past are not recruited in the ranks of the interim government security forces, she maintained.
After 14 years of civil war which ended last December when the opposition forces, notably Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-led by the Prsident Al-Sharaa-Damascus, forcing Mr. Al-Assad, was caused to the unity of Syria.
“The extreme violence that occurred has deepened the existing fruits between communities, Contribute to a climate of fear and insecurity among many Syrians across the country“Said the commissioners.
“We call on the interim authorities to continue to continue the responsibility of all the authors, regardless of its affiliation or its rank,” continued Mr. Pinheiro. “While dozens of alleged authors of violations have since been arrested, the extent of the documented violence in our report justifies the enlargement of such efforts.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
