Human-rights groups urge action on Syria

Three major human-rights groups express separate concerns about the Syrian regime’s crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. The groups say the international community should hold the Syrian leadership accountable.

Protesters in Brussels, Belgium, speak out against government violence in Syria at a demonstration organized by Amnesty International. (Bruno Fahy / EPA / July 1, 2011)

By Borzou Daragahi, Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2011

Reporting from Beirut—

A trio of major human-rights groups on Wednesday sounded separate alarms about the violent crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in Syria, accusing the regime of war crimes and urging the international community to haul the leadership in Damascus before a tribunal.

More than 1,400 Syrians have been killed in the nearly 4-month-old uprising, which seeks to bring democracy to a nation that has been run by the family of President Bashar Assad or its political allies since 1963.

Human Rights First, a Washington-based advocacy group, urged United Nations Security Council members to take action.

“The situation in Syria cannot be allowed to deteriorate further,” Neil Hicks of Human Rights First said in a statement. “The U.S. government must lead international efforts to adopt a resolution condemning Syria’s actions at the U.N. Security Council. Syria’s leaders should be put on notice that they will be held to account for their actions.”

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