• Press Release

Amnesty International Urges Russia and Other Countries to Prevail on Syria to Stop Its Deadly Assault on Homs

February 8, 2012

Contact: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150, [email protected]

(New York) – Amnesty International today urged Russia and other countries with influence over Syria to make an urgent appeal to try to stop the military assault on Homs.

The organization said more than 200 people have been killed since Friday from shelling and sniper fire.

While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was meeting Tuesday with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syrian security forces’ unrelenting bombardment of Homs continued and has since intensified. Amnesty International called on Russia to make it clear to the Syrian government, both publicly and in private, that the military assault on Homs must end immediately.

The organization also called on the Arab League to continue its diplomatic efforts on Syria.

“The situation in Homs is critical, and is turning into a major humanitarian crisis. Russia has blocked international efforts to stop the massive human rights violations in Syria, stating that they have a better plan for resolving the crisis,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General.

“Russia, and other countries with influence over Syria, must use whatever means they have to restrain the Syrian military in Homs and ensure it stops using heavy weaponry in residential areas.”

“The Syrian government seems to think that Saturday’s Security Council veto has given it the green light to crush resistance in Homs by any means – Russia needs to make clear, with a loud voice, that this is not the case.”

Since Friday residential areas in Homs – including al-Khaldieh, Bab ‘Amr, Bab al-Seba’ and al-Insha’aat – have been subjected to shelling by government forces and there have been heavy exchanges of fire with anti-government fighters in these areas.

The Syrian army has deployed tanks in certain areas. Armed groups in the city are reported to be using Kalashnikovs and RPGs in response.

Amnesty International has received the names of 246 people reported to have been killed in Homs, including at least 17 children. While some of those killed were armed men fighting against the government forces, the majority were reported to have been unarmed.

Hundreds more are reported to have been injured. Most people are being treated in makeshift field hospitals or at their homes.

Homs residents told Amnesty International that there is a severe shortage of medical staff, equipment and medication to treat the injured. On Monday, a field hospital treating both injured residents and fighters was hit by shelling.

The Syrian News Agency said on Tuesday that 30 men from the army and security forces were buried after being killed by what they termed “terrorist groups” in different parts of the country.

Amnesty International also called on the Arab League at its ministerial meeting this weekend to continue its efforts to build international pressure on the Syrian government and other governments who are supporting it.

“The Arab League was rebuffed by the UN Security Council on Saturday but we believe it should continue its work to bring an end to the atrocities taking place in Syria,” said Shetty.

“The first step is for the Arab League to make it clear that they will not let the pressure drop, and to push this issue back to New York, whether that be the Security Council or the General Assembly.”

Amnesty International has received the names of more than 5400 people believed to have been killed in the context of protests in Syria since mass protests began in March 2011.

Amnesty International has concluded that crimes against humanity are taking place in Syria – a finding also made by a UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry in November – and called for the situation to be referred to Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, as well as for a comprehensive arms embargo to be imposed on Syria and an assets freeze against President Bashar al-Assad and his close associates.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.