Qatar demands to refer those responsible for Syria crimes to ICC

The State of Qatar holds the Syrian regime responsible for the war crimes and human rights violations being committed in Syria.

Sheikha Alia Ahmed Bin Saif Al-Thani, who is Qatar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, voiced the Qatari position during the twenty-fourth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Sheikha Alia has demanded to refer the members of the Syrian regime who have committed war crimes to the International Criminal Court, especially following the International Commission of Inquiry’s report that proved the Syrian regime had systematically used violence against civilians and committed numerous massacres, torture and rape.

Sheikha Alia stressed in her speech that, “the Syrian regime bears the main responsibility for violating human rights, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria. The regime has not peacefully responded to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people since the outbreak of the crisis.”

She added that, “The alleged abuses committed by the armed opposition groups, which were forced to take up arms to defend themselves and the unarmed Syrian people, did not live up to the level or size of the gross and systematic crimes being committed by the government forces and its loyal troops. We strongly condemn all violations of human rights despite their origins.”