Senior UN officials have been meeting representatives of the new caretaker authorities in Damascus in the past few days, following the overthrow of the Assad regime. This morning in New York, the Security Council met to discuss the future of Syria, with briefings from the UN Special Envoy and the UN’s emergency relief chief. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
Mahvash Sabet is recovering from heart surgery: Iran’s government must let her do so in peace by never returning her to prison.
GENEVA—23 December 2024—Mahvash Sabet, a 71-year-old Iranian Baha’i prisoner of conscience jailed by the Islamic Republic for over 13 years for her beliefs—who has previously been denied proper medical care in prison, despite severe and worsening health issues, and has often been barred from hospital treatment regardless of her life-threatening ailments—has undergone open-heart surgery.
Once her recovery period is over, however, Ms. Mahvash Sabet will be recalled to prison to serve the rest of her second 10-year jail term.
The Baha’i International Community (BIC) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Sabet, the canceling of her prison sentence, and assurances from Iranian authorities that she will never be returned to jail.
Ms. Mahvash Sabet was a member of an informal leadership group of the Baha’i community before being arrested in 2008 and imprisoned for 10 years along with six other colleagues. Baha’is in Iran have faced systematic persecution across all walks of life—a situation which for more than 45 years has been condemned by the United Nations and the international community.
The previous UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, reported that Baha’is were targeted with “genocidal intent” by the Iranian government. Human Rights Watch called the treatment of the Baha’is in Iran the “crime against humanity of persecution”.
Ms. Mahvash Sabet was arrested for a second time in July 2022—despite suffering from a severe Covid infection and other health issues that needed medical attention. In prison, she earned the respect and affection of her fellow inmates, many of whom saw her as a mother figure, such as the journalist Roxana Saberi who has called for Ms. Sabet’s release on many occasions.
Now, after more than 13 years in prison and repeated and severe physical and emotional maltreatment, as well as interrogations at the hands of the Iranian authorities, Ms. Mahvash Sabet is recovering from heart surgery caused by years of medical neglect and abuse.
Multiple doctors have confirmed, in writing, that her continued detention would lead to a collapse in her health; this is just what has happened.
In November 2022, after her second arrest, doctors confirmed in writing that Ms. Mahvash Sabet suffered from “osteopenia, osteoporosis, and tendinitis,” and that, “owing to the advancing trend of her illness, requiring repeated visits, tolerating prison conditions will be very difficult for her and will lead to a rapid deterioration of her illness”. A second medical report said Ms. Sabet was suffering from “severe allergic asthma and chronic bronchitis” and that she was “not capable of withstanding her sentence”.
The Iranian authorities disregarded these warnings. Ms. Mahvash Sabet now faces a return to Evin Prison after her heart surgery to serve the rest of her sentence—almost eight more years behind bars. The Baha’i International Community insists that her outstanding jail term should be canceled and she must be freed to recuperate in peace.
“Ms. Sabet has faced threatening health conditions for years and has not received the medical attention she has required,” said Simin Fahandej, BIC Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “Instead of giving her the care she needs, the government sent her to solitary confinement, with long and harsh interrogations. Ms. Sabet should have never been in prison in the first place and once she faced health conditions in prison, should have been released. The Iranian government must now rectify this, releasing her from prison immediately so that she can receive the care she needs with her family.”
Ms. Sabet’s health crisis mirrors similar cases faced by dozens of other Baha’is who are unjustly detained on baseless charges. The BIC has received dozens of reports of Iranian authorities ignoring the health concerns of detained Baha’is—in a clear violation of the right of detainees to medical care.
“The world knows Mahvash Sabet as a fearless champion of human rights, and we are inspired by her fortitude in the face of cruelty and injustice,” Ms. Fahandej said. “But we are heartbroken by the way her life and health have been severely impacted and by the Iranian government’s cruel persecution of her, as well as her fellow Baha’is, and the whole Baha’i community. We call for an end to the cruelty and discrimination that would allow a 71-year-old, who already spent 13 years in prison to continue to be persecuted with such grave injustice.”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom also said, on December 13, that it was “deeply concerned by the hospitalization of Baha’i leader Mahvash Sabet,” adding that Iranian authorities had “repeatedly tortured” her in prison.
In April 2023, after her second imprisonment, reports emerged that Ms. Mahvash Sabet’s knees had been broken by security officials during an Evin Prison interrogation. Ms. Sabet was forced to recover from this grave injury within the prison walls.
“Imagine entering a time of life when most people spend more time with their families, but instead staring at the walls of a cell, while your heart and body crumble and your heart fails. If you can imagine this then you can understand a piece of the injustice Mahvash continues to endure,” Ms. Fahandej added.
“The Iranian government now has a chance to take a positive step by confirming Mahvash Sabet will never again step inside prison,” Ms. Fahandej said. “Mahvash deserves to recover from heart surgery with her family—and neither she nor any Baha’i or other prisoners of conscience should suffer through a single minute more of brutality for their beliefs.”
● Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and defense lawyer for Mahvash Sabet and the other Baha’i leaders during their 2008 trial, said there was “not a shred of evidence” to prove any of the allegations regarding national security, “spreading corruption on earth,” and other charges, put forward by the Iranian government.
● In 2017, Ms. Mahvash Sabet was named by International PEN as its “International Writer of Courage” for a series of poems she had written inside Evin Prison. Before her first imprisonment, she worked as an educator for the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, which offers university-level instruction to young Iranian Baha’is, who are barred from tertiary institutions because of their faith.
● One of Ms. Mahvash Sabet’s fellow inmates in Evin Prison, the Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, has on several occasions spoken out in defense of Ms. Sabet and other Baha’i prisoners.
● In one statement, published in January 2023 from inside Evin Prison, Ms. Mohammadi remembered the moment she saw Ms. Sabet returned to Evin Prison, saying “Mahvash stood there, coughing repeatedly, pale, and still wearing the summer clothes she had on during her arrest on 31 July,” noting her lack of warm clothing during the winter months, in a clear confirmation of the neglect shown by prison authorities for Ms. Sabet’s health.
● The US-based Iranian women’s rights activist, Masih Alinejad, also published in December 2023 a video statement in which she read from a letter by Ms. Sabet and praised her courage in the face of persecution and injustice.
More on the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran
Recent months have seen a rise in international attention and concern over the human rights of Baha’is in Iran and, in particular, over the situation of Iranian Baha’i women.
● The latest development in Ms. Sabet’s health situation comes just weeks after 18 United Nations experts criticized the Iranian government for a rise in attacks on Baha’i women. Iranian Baha’i women face intersectional persecution as women and as Baha’is.
● Earlier this week, meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly passed its most recent resolution criticizing the Islamic Republic for its human rights violations and rebuking Iran’s government for subjecting Baha’is to “a continued increase and the cumulative impacts of long-standing persecution, including attacks, harassment, and targeting, who face increasing restrictions and systemic persecution by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on account of their faith and have been reportedly subjected to mass arrests and lengthy prison sentences, as well as the arrest of prominent members and increased confiscation and destruction of property”.
● A recent launch of a new report, Outsiders: Multifaceted Violence Against Baha’is in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, UN Special Rapporteurs including Professor Mai Sato, the new Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and Professor Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, spoke about Iran’s systematic repression of the Baha’i community, particularly targeting Baha’i women.
● A grim example of recent persecution came in October when 10 Baha’i women in Isfahan were sentenced to a combined total of 90 years in prison. The women were convicted of “spreading propaganda” and acting against the Iranian government after organizing educational and cultural activities—such as language, art, and yoga classes, including for children—which Iranian authorities deemed “deviant educational activities”.
● Recent international scrutiny also includes a letter signed by 18 UN experts in October, rebuking Iran for targeting Baha’i women through home raids, travel bans, and prolonged prison sentences. The experts, including UN Special Rapporteurs on violence against women and girls, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of opinion and expression, called the government’s actions “a continuous pattern of targeted discrimination.” And earlier this year a report by Human Rights Watch, titled The Boot on My Neck, found Iran’s 45-year systemic repression of Baha’is to be the “crime against humanity of persecution”.
New rules to combat deforestation will now take effect in late 2025, providing businesses additional time to adapt.
In a significant move to address global deforestation, the European Parliament has voted to delay the implementation of new EU regulations aimed at banning the sale of products linked to deforested land. The rules, originally set to take effect at the end of 2024, will now apply from December 30, 2025, for large operators and traders, and from June 30, 2026, for micro- and small enterprises.
The decision to postpone the application of the deforestation law was approved with overwhelming support in Parliament, garnering 546 votes in favor, 97 against, and 7 abstentions. The delay comes in response to concerns raised by businesses, EU member states, and non-EU countries about their ability to fully comply with the stringent requirements within the original timeline.
The regulation, adopted in April 2023, is a cornerstone of the EU’s efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by banning the sale of products such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, and rubber that are linked to deforestation. EU consumption is responsible for around 10% of global deforestation, with palm oil and soya production accounting for the majority of this impact.
The European Commission proposed the one-year extension to give companies more time to prepare for the new rules without compromising the regulation’s objectives. Parliament’s rapporteur Christine Schneider (EPP, Germany) emphasized the importance of this additional time in ensuring a smooth transition.
“We promised and we have delivered,” Schneider said. “We paid attention to the calls of several sectors facing difficulties and ensured that affected businesses, foresters, farmers, and authorities will have an additional year to prepare. This time must be used effectively to ensure that the measures announced in the Commission’s binding declaration, including the online platform and risk categorization, are consistently implemented to create more predictability throughout the supply chain.”
Schneider also highlighted the importance of reducing administrative burdens for businesses, particularly in low-risk countries, and urged the Commission to follow through on its commitments.
As part of the agreement, the European Commission has pledged to make the necessary information systems and risk classification proposals available by June 30, 2025. These tools are critical for ensuring that businesses can comply with the regulation efficiently. A general review of the rules is scheduled for no later than June 30, 2028, during which additional measures to simplify compliance procedures will be considered.
The delay must now be endorsed by the Council and published in the EU Official Journal by the end of 2024 to take effect.
The urgency of the deforestation regulation is underscored by alarming statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which estimates that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. The EU’s consumption patterns play a significant role in this crisis, with over two-thirds of its deforestation impact linked to palm oil and soya production.
The regulation represents a bold step in the EU’s fight against deforestation, aiming to align its consumption practices with global sustainability goals. By targeting key commodities and requiring businesses to prove their products are not sourced from deforested land, the law seeks to reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss.
With the postponement now approved by Parliament, the focus shifts to ensuring the regulation is implemented effectively. Parliament has pledged to closely monitor the process, ensuring that the Commission delivers on its promises to reduce bureaucracy and provide the necessary tools for compliance.
As the world grapples with the devastating consequences of deforestation, the EU’s regulation serves as a critical test of global efforts to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. While businesses have been granted more time to adapt, the clock is ticking on the planet’s forests.
Delivering his final briefing for the year, Hans Grundberg noted that 2024 was marked by immense turmoil and tragedy across the Middle East region, where far too many people – including in Yemen – have endured profound loss due to violent conflicts.
“With the last months’ dramatic developments in Lebanon and Syria, it should be obvious to all that the Middle East is in urgent need of stabilization. This includes Yemen,” he said.
In Yemen, Government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels, have been fighting for over a decade. The country is among the top humanitarian crises in the world and economic deterioration is deepening.
Furthermore, following the start of the war in Gaza, the Houthis – also known as Ansar Allah – have been firing on commercial ships plying the Red Sea and even launched missiles and drones at some Israeli cities.
Mr. Grundberg recalled that Yemen has taken several positive steps in recent years, namely the UN-brokered truce agreement in 2022, two major exchanges of conflict-related detainees, and commitments made last year by all sides to advance peace efforts under a UN roadmap.
He said these actions “demonstrate that diplomatic engagement by the UN, regional powers, and international actors, remains the most effective pathway to achieving sustainable peace.”
The UN envoy stressed the critical need for the parties, the region, and the international community to “capitalize on these moments in order to not miss the chance to take clear steps towards peace,” otherwise the suffering of the Yemeni people will continue.
He said ending the war is a choice that remains within reach of the warring sides.
“I urge the parties to actively engage with my efforts on the roadmap, which would deliver a ceasefire, economic measures such as the sustainable payment of salaries, and preparing for an inclusive political process,” he said.
“I firmly believe this is still possible. However, swift action is imperative if they wish to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis and restore hope for a peaceful future.”
Mr. Grundberg also reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of UN staff and other humanitarian, civil society, diplomatic and private sector personnel who have been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis for six months now.
He said Houthi activity in the Red Sea, and attacks on Israel, remain ongoing, and the United States and the United Kingdom continue to launch airstrikes in response.
“These developments, which have persisted over the course of the year, have shrunk the space for my mediation efforts,” he said.
“I will encourage all involved to take the necessary steps to create a conducive environment for the conflict in Yemen to be resolved. Failure to do so will only encourage those who call for a return to war.”
Meanwhile, the fragile situation within Yemen persists along multiple frontlines, with ongoing flare ups. This includes recent escalations in eastern Ta’iz, and a drone attack on a crowded marketplace that killed six people and seriously wounded many more.
“Such incidents underscore the urgent need for a ceasefire agreement,” he said, adding that his Office continues to engage with military and security officials from both sides.
Mr. Grundberg said he continues consultations with a wide spectrum of Yemeni society, which includes holding a dialogue series with political parties and co-sponsoring the 7th Feminist Summit, held in Aden.
He also reported on his recent engagement with Yemeni and international stakeholders in numerous locations.
“In all those engagements, I carried the same message: a peaceful resolution in Yemen is possible, and continuing international unity and support towards that goal is essential,” he said.
“Only through a shared commitment and decisive action can we create and maintain an environment conducive to effective mediation and realize the sustainable, inclusive and just peace that the Yemeni people have yearned for and rightly deserve.”
The Council received an update on the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, where 19.5 million people are in need, up from 18.2 million at the beginning of the year.
In his first briefing to ambassadors, newly appointed UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher said 2024 has been “a deeply challenging year” for the country, with ongoing conflict, regional escalation, a deepening economic crisis and increased threats to the safety and security of aid workers.
“Attacks from and on Yemen have risked damage to vital seaport infrastructure; endangered the flow of essential food, fuel and other imports on which millions of Yemenis depend; and threatened an unprecedented oil spill,” he said.
At IOM’s Migrant Response Point in Aden, migrants receive the cholera vaccine as part of a nationwide effort to tackle the outbreak.
He noted that in Government-controlled areas, the Yemeni currency has hit successive record lows as oil and gas exports remain obstructed. In some locations, food costs have risen by nearly 30 per cent compared to last year.
Furthermore, basic services have faltered, and families are increasingly turning to alternative ways to survive, including child marriage.
He highlighted other challenges, including a cholera outbreak that has affected more than 200,000 people, and flooding that displaced more than half a million.
Meanwhile, humanitarians have faced funding cuts which have forced vital programmes to close. Still, they have supported an estimated 7.8 million people this year despite the obstacles.
“Above all, we will stay and deliver support to address human suffering whenever and wherever it is found, based on need alone,” he said.
Mr. Fletcher appealed for the Council to ensure humanitarian lifelines in Yemen are protected in conflict.
He urged ambassadors to use their influence to secure full respect for international law, which includes ensuring critical infrastructure is spared.
“It is particularly critical that Yemen’s Red Sea ports remain operational and available for imports – they are lifelines for millions of people,” he said.
He called for the full support for humanitarian funding, as $2.5 billion is required to reach more than 10 million people across Yemen.
“Finally, Special Envoy Grundberg must be backed to secure a lasting resolution to the conflict in Yemen. This is essential to ending the decade-long cycle of humanitarian suffering,” he concluded.
President Metsola presented the Sakharov Prize 2024 to Venezuela’s Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado at a ceremony on Tuesday in Strasbourg.
Edmundo González Urrutia, a diplomat and politician who succeeded Machado as the main opposition candidate after her disqualification, denounced the failure to publish the official results of the July 2024 presidential elections and contested Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. He left Venezuela in September 2024, following the issuing of an arrest warrant against him, and was given refuge in Spain.
Speaking to MEPs, Mr González Urrutia said: “sooner rather than later, our country will take a turn in a direction determined by our people. The abuse and violence of these days is just a clumsy attempt to postpone what is unavoidable.”
“No government based on violence is stable,” Mr González Urrutia said, underlining the fact that Venezuelans, including partisans and former partisans of the regime, “want to advance on the path of freedom, democracy and understanding among us all.”
Venezuela’s president-elect said the Sakharov award strengthens his commitment to dialogue and symbolises the unity of democrats across the world who “today, more than ever, need each other”. He concluded that “Venezuela’s fight for freedom and democracy is the fight for these values in the whole world.”
In her intervention made remotely, María Corina Machado denounced the fact that “for a quarter of a century they have attempted to divide, weaken and subdue us (…). Preaching hate, they tried to pit us against each other, people against people; divide us between rich and poor, left and right, white and black, those who leave and those who stay, and also for our religious beliefs.”
“They also pursued the destruction of all democratic institutions, from an independent judiciary to the popular vote. A corrupt and criminal regime has suffocated the economy, prompting the worst levels of hyperinflation in history and turning millions into dependents of public aid conditioned to political loyalty, without dignity nor future,” she added. “But Venezuela has reacted,” Ms Machado said, highlighting that the 28 July presidential elections marked the start of an unstoppable genuine change which transcends the current time and Venezuela’s borders. “We know we will succeed (…); Venezuela’s victory will be the victory of all humankind,” she concluded, thanking the European Parliament “for proving we are not alone”.
In a resolution adopted on 19 September 2024, the European Parliament recognised Mr González Urrutia as the legitimate and democratically elected President of Venezuela and María Corina Machado as leader of the country’s democratic forces. MEPs also said international election observation mission reports made it clear that the Venezuelan presidential election did not comply with international standards of electoral integrity.
Earlier in February 2024, the European Parliament had urged the member states to maintain the sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime, and to step them up until there is a clear and permanent commitment by the regime, in line with the Barbados Agreement, to uphold basic democratic standards, the rule of law and human rights.
In July 2023, the European Parliament strongly condemned the Venezuelan regime’s arbitrary and unconstitutional decision to prevent prominent political opposition figures such as María Corina Machado, Leopoldo López, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano from running in the 2024 elections.
You can watch the recording of the ceremony.
Background
Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU’s highest human rights award.
Created in 1988, it has been awarded by Parliament to individuals or organisations every year since 1988, in recognition of their work in one of the following areas: the defence of human rights and fundamental rights, in particular freedom of expression, the safeguarding of minority rights, respect for international law, the development of democracy and the defence of the rule of law.
Mr. Guterres was speaking on Wednesday to reporters in Pretoria, South Africa, where he met with Government officials in connection with the country’s presidency of the G20 group of industrial nations.
“As we speak, we are witnessing the reshaping of the Middle East, with the changes in the correlation of forces among the key regional actors,” he said, stressing that the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood must be constantly reaffirmed.
“But we also see some signs of hope, and signs of hope mainly coming from the end of the Syrian dictatorship,” he added.
The Secretary-General said his Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, is engaging with all the key actors on the way forward, “and I fully trust the Syrian people, to be able to choose their own destiny.”
Mr. Guterres was asked if he thought world leaders understood that “the Middle East question” must be resolved as the entire region will be affected.
He underlined that the international community has a duty to “do everything to support the different Syrian leaders” to ensure that they come together and guarantee a smooth and inclusive transition.
“The alternative doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “Syrians had enough divisions. It’s time for unity, and it’s time for the reestablishment of its territory.”
The UN chief was also asked about Israel’s further advancement into the Golan in southwest Syria, which it has occupied for decades, and a response to President Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly saying that the region will be part of Israel “for eternity”.
Mr. Guterres said “the concept of eternity” is difficult to define.
He noted that the Golan is occupied by Israel, “but that occupation is not internationally recognized. And so, I would say that eternity would not solve the problem of the violations of the law.”
Meanwhile, the security situation in Syria remains volatile as Israeli airstrikes and localized hostilities continue to affect many areas, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Wednesday.
OCHA expressed concern over the risks of explosive ordnance to people moving around the country.
Humanitarian partners have identified more than 50 minefields over the past 10 days, which is curtailing the movement of civilians and impeding the delivery of goods and services.
The UN and partners continue to support humanitarian response across the country and are resuming activities as security conditions allow.
Listen to our interview with Samer Abdel Jaber of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) which is seeking $250 million to kickstart key supply chain corridors and ease food insecurity.
Local and national partners in Homs, located in western Syria, are gradually resuming humanitarian activities, while the water stations in Al-Husayn city have been reactivated, benefiting residents in Homs and Hama.
However, humanitarian activities in the northeast have been constrained by insecurity.
Despite the challenges, aid partners have managed to distribute dozens of tents and thousands of mattresses, blankets, sleeping bags and solar lamps to centres hosting displaced people in Tabqa and Raqqa
OCHA said they need urgent additional funding, particularly with the onset of winter, as rain and snow could lead to flooding across the country.
Separately, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a social media post on Monday that much is in flux in Syria, “but vital aid must continue to flow and critical health and other services must be sustained.”
He reiterated that “humanitarians will continue to engage whenever and wherever needed to support Syrian civilians.”
Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is engaging with all parties who have a stake in the political future of the country “on the way forward” towards a peaceful and Syrian-led transition, the UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.
The Secretary-General stressed there were clear “signs of hope” for the future.
The world owes it to the Syrian people to listen, to act and to work tirelessly toward a future where such horrors can never recur
In his statement, Mr. Pedersen focused on the extraordinary images and stories emerging from the newly liberated prisons of the former regime.
“Despite extensive documentation and testimonies, they only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he said.
“These images are a profound testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond comprehension endured by those detained, their families, and their loved ones.
Now is the time for “decisive, compassionate action”, he continued, urging the international community and all concerned parties to provide support to families of those missing and detained.
This includes medical care, psychological support, legal assistance, and safe shelter.
Meanwhile, all evidence of the crimes committed in Syria’s detention centres must be secured “to aid families in their search for justice and accountability.”
“We must prioritise accounting for the missing, ensuring that families receive the clarity and recognition they desperately need…Justice for the victims and their families is not only a right but also essential for healing and for preventing further violations.”
Mr. Pedersen also called for the humanitarian needs of those freed to be prioritised with “countless” Syrians still being held arbitrarily within the country’s borders by various groups across the war-shattered country.
“They must be immediately released,” he said, calling for all parties to cooperate with specialised UN bodies such as the Independent Institution on Missing Persons (IIMP), the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (CoI), together with relevant international and national bodies.
“The world owes it to the Syrian people to listen, to act, and to work tirelessly toward a future where such horrors can never recur,” he concluded.
The UN-backed Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is preparing to send a team of experts to Syria “as soon as the security situation allows it,” the weapons watchdog said on Thursday.
That’s one of the conclusions from an emergency meeting held following a request from OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias.
In his opening remarks, he reminded the Council that Syria under the Assad regime has never declared its full weapons programme despite their use on multiple occasions during the long civil conflict.
“In the past days, the Secretariat has been closely monitoring the situation in Syria,” said Director-General Arias.
“The political and security situation in the country remains volatile…The ultimate goal is to achieve the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, and to take part in the process of the international accountability of the former Syrian government and any other identified perpetrators.”
The process began 11 years ago when Syria first acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The OPCW Technical Secretariat, through its Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), has been working over the years to address gaps, discrepancies, and inconsistencies in Syria’s initial declaration and the issue has been regularly addressed in the UN Security Council.
Mr. Arias said Syria now needs “to come into full compliance and, at last, fulfil all its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, relinquishing what is left of its chemical weapons programme.”
Following the decision by the Security Council to mandate Syrian chemical weapons inspections, an OPCW team prepared to leave for Syria on Monday 30 September 2013 (file photo).
Meanwhile on the humanitarian front, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up food assistance programmes across Syria to reach an estimated 2.8 million displaced and food-insecure people, the emergency food agency announced on Thursday.
The spillover from years of civil conflict and months of fighting in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel – stemming in turn from the Israel-Hamas war – meant the country was already deeply destabilised before the regime was deposed by the de facto authorities in Damascus.
“During this critical time for Syria, WFP teams are on-the-ground ensuring that the country’s most vulnerable people receive the urgent food assistance they need,” said Country Director in Syria Kenn Crossley.
“Right now, commercial supply routes are compromised, food prices are soaring, and the Syrian currency is depreciating. Essential items such as rice, sugar and oil are in short supply and bread prices have spiked, making it critically important that we scale-up our efforts to assist during this winter season.”
WFP urgently needs $250 million in the next six months to buy and deliver food assistance for up to 2.8 million displaced and vulnerable.
The agency has one of its largest country operations already in place across Syria, spanning seven offices. This presence has enabled WFP to quickly scale-up over the past two weeks, providing daily ready-to-eat rations, food baskets, fresh and hot meals, to nearly 70,000 displaced people in hard-hit areas.
Food distributions and hot meal services provided by WFP pre-crisis have already resumed for displaced people in Homs, Aleppo, Raqqa and Al-Hasakah, after days of instability and unrest.
Nearly 14 years of war have left many Syrians in a vulnerable state; some 12.9 million people were food insecure at the start of 2024, including three million severely food insecure.
“Food aid is not only a lifeline for ensuring nutritional needs are met during a crisis,” stressed Mr. Crossley, “it’s a reassuring presence that lets communities know they are not alone in what can feel like a very vulnerable, and isolating moment in their lives.”
A team from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria visited former prisons and detention centres, including the notorious Sednaya and the Military Intelligence Branch 235 prisons.
It is the first time the team has been able to access Syria, as the former regime denied all previous requests to gather evidence.
The team was dismayed to see that much evidence and documentation had been damaged, taken or destroyed – information which in some cases could have helped families trace disappeared loved ones.
“Utmost care must be taken to protect mass grave sites and to safeguard all documents and evidence across Syria,” it said, warning that well-meaning but premature actions by individuals or organizations could hinder long-term forensic efforts.
The Commission are recommending the setting up of a a specialized unit to coordinate the protection and preservation of mass grave sites and related documents, until forensic experts can assess them.
The independent rights experts call on authorities to discourage any interference and for any documents already removed to be returned. Many national and international rights bodies and organizations have offered assistance to secure evidence and support the families of missing persons.
“This critical juncture in Syria’s history, and at a time of great expectations by the Syrian people, the Commission reiterate its full solidarity with the entire Syrian people and stands ready to support in any capacity it can,” it stated.
Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry is mandated to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in Syria.
Separately, a group of over 30 independent human rights experts – including Special Rapporteurs – stressed the need for unified international support to ensure Syria’s transition is grounded in democratic principles and human rights.
They emphasised that justice, reconciliation, and respect for Syria’s sovereignty are paramount to the country’s recovery following the fall of the Assad regime.
The experts highlighted the importance of addressing the rights of marginalized groups, including women, children, minorities, and displaced persons, while ensuring the political process remains Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.
“Justice should be pursued for all crimes committed, regardless of the perpetrator, through a credible judicial system focused on accountability, reparations, reconciliation and not revenge,” the experts stated.
“It is vital that such processes conform fully with international human rights standards…The involvement of civil society and human rights defenders in a just transition is crucially important for the process to be credible,” they added.
The experts urged the international community to support Syria’s rebuilding while ensuring the process remains free from foreign interference or aggression, warning that the country has endured major foreign interventions, transforming the country into the site of an extensive and protracted proxy war.
Continuing military interventions, such as the recent unprovoked and illegal attacks by Israel – its occupation of more Syrian territory in the Golan Heights and other air-attacks and incursions into north-east and central Syria – are grave obstacles to effective rehabilitation.
“All foreign occupying military forces should leave Syria, and all territorial incursions and attacks should cease without delay,” the experts stated.
The experts included several Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups on key rights issues, who are appointed and mandated by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.
They are not UN staff, do not draw a salary, and serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN Secretariat.
MAGDEBURG, Germany – December 21, 2024 – A festive evening at a bustling Christmas market in Magdeburg turned into a scene of devastation on Friday night by a terrorist psychiatrist, as a vehicle plowed through crowds of holiday shoppers, leaving five people dead and over 200 injured.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi-born psychiatrist who has lived in Germany since 2006.
The incident occurred around 7:00 p.m. local time when a black BMW tore through the heart of the market, packed with families and revelers enjoying the holiday season. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as the car barreled through vendor stalls and sent people running for their lives.
“It was horrifying,” said Maria Schultz, a local resident who was at the market with her children. “One moment, we were admiring the lights, and the next, there was screaming and people on the ground.”
Among the victims of the terrorist psychiatrist was a nine-year-old child, whose death has sent shockwaves through the community. Medical personnel worked through the night to treat the injured, many of whom remain in critical condition.
A Troubled Figure Emerges
Terrorist Psychiatrist Al-Abdulmohsen, who was arrested at the scene, has a complex history. Originally from Saudi Arabia, he moved to Germany in 2006 and was granted asylum a decade later, citing threats from his homeland over his outspoken criticism of Islam and the Saudi government.
Known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, Al-Abdulmohsen worked as a psychiatrist and had been employed at a correctional facility in Bernburg, where he treated addicted criminals. Investigators have revealed that the suspect was under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.
His online presence, which includes conspiracy theories and far-right rhetoric, has drawn significant attention.
Posts from his social media accounts suggest a deep mistrust of German authorities and accusations that they were attempting to “Islamize Europe.” Saudi officials had reportedly warned Germany about Psychiatrist Al-Abdulmohsen’s extremist views, but no preventive measures were taken.
“This raises serious questions about how such warnings are processed and acted upon,” said political analyst Jakob Meier.
A Nation in Mourning and Reflection
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed condolences to the victims and their families, calling the attack “a senseless act of violence.”
On Saturday morning, Scholz visited the site, laying flowers and meeting with local officials to discuss measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. “The safety of our citizens is paramount, especially during times of celebration,” Scholz said during a press briefing. “We will ensure a thorough investigation and take immediate action to address security concerns.”
The attack has drawn comparisons to the 2016 jihadist attack on a Berlin Christmas market, which claimed 12 lives and injured dozens. While the motivations behind Friday’s attack appear different, the outcome has reignited debates over immigration and security in Germany. Some political leaders have called for stricter vetting of asylum seekers and greater surveillance of individuals flagged as potential threats.
Community Response
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Magdeburg residents have come together to support one another. Vigils have been held across the city, and makeshift memorials adorned with candles and flowers now line the streets near the market.
Local business owner Klaus Reinhardt, whose stall was destroyed in the attack, said the community’s resilience is strong. “This is a dark moment for Magdeburg, but we won’t let it define us. We’ll rebuild and come back stronger.”
Security has been tightened at Christmas markets across Germany, with additional police presence and vehicle barriers now commonplace. However, for many, the sense of joy that marks the holiday season has been irreparably dimmed.
A Broader Implication
As Germany grapples with the aftermath of this attack, the questions surrounding integration, extremism, and public safety loom larger than ever.
Terrorist Psychiatrist Al-Abdulmohsen’s story — from asylum seeker to alleged perpetrator of a heinous act — adds a layer of complexity to an already fraught national conversation.
For now, Magdeburg mourns its loss, as the rest of the country watches closely, hoping for answers and resolutions to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again.
COMECE advocates for the unique contribution of Religious Education at the European Schools in latest position paper.
Building on the vision and mission of the European Schools regarding Religious Education, the document reflects on the importance of Religious Education in Europe today. Drafted in cooperation with the Coordinators of Catholic Religion working at the European Schools—who support the activities and work of Catholic religion teachers in Brussels and other Member States—the position paper highlights that religion offers a space for learners to discover meaning and purpose, enhances their moral and ethical development, effectively promotes social cohesion, and helps prevent radicalisation.
“Religious education helps students understand the historical and cultural dimensions of yesterday and today’s Europe. It deepens the understanding of Europe’s heritage that is directly linked to Christianity. Christian religious education, in fact, promotes values such as dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and fundamental rights, which are at the core of the European project”, the paper reads.
COMECE General Secretary, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, comments on the publication:
“In the context of current discussions on reforms that may alter the provision of religious education in the final two school years, it is more essential than ever to preserve the religious and testimonial dimension of faith within the educational mission of the European Schools”.
As part of its mission to represent the Bishops of the Dioceses where European Schools are located, and as a close collaborator of Religious Education teachers, COMECE will hold its next regular meeting with the General Secretariat of the European Schools on 8 January 2025. Religious authorities and members of the Secretariat will discuss the current state of Religion classes and the action plan developed in response to the 2023 European Parliament resolution.
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