Syria Slammed by UN Security Council for Human Rights Abuses

By Ivana Kvesic , Christian Post Reporter

August 3, 2011|10:36 pm

The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) broke its silence on Wednesday condemning the human rights violations that have occurred in Syria over the past 5 months.

The Security Council released a presidential statement that condemned the "widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities."

The council has been divided on the issue of Syria, with some members arguing not to meddle in the internal affairs of another nation while also fearing the weakening of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad may threaten an already unstable region.

However, other members of the council found the statement to be timely and necessary to stop the Syrian government from attacking its citizens.

British permanent representative to the U.N., Mark Lyall Grant, told reporters of the presidential statement, "We are condemning the real problem which is the brutality exercised by the Syrian regime against its people."

Grant continued by stating that the statement was sending a very clear message to Syria that the Security Council has its eyes on the country and will be paying very close attention to the actions of the Syrian government in the following days.

The presidential statement, decided upon by the 15-member council, comes on the heels of an intensified military campaign by the Syrian government in the city of Hama.

The city of Hama is the epicenter of the protest movement and as of Sunday has witnessed government forces rolling in and heavy shelling by tanks, snipers, and machine-guns.

Syria has blocked almost all foreign journalists from operating the country making the causalities and the realities of the government assault difficult to verify.

The Syrian authorities claim that they have moved into the city of Hama to confront "armed terrorist groups."

However, statements from people on the ground suggest that the government is attempting to crush the dissent out of the people of Hama.

An unidentified diplomat stated, "The security apparatus thinks it can wrap this uprising up by relying on the security option and killing as many Syrians as it thinks it will take."

With the presidential statement now released, hope ensues that the statement can mark a turning point in the deadly situation in Syria.