Take Action: Urge Congress to Protect Religious Minorities in Syria
Now is a critical moment to ensure U.S. policy toward Syria prioritizes the protection of vulnerable communities. Supporters of the Alawites Association of the United States are calling on constituents like you to make your voice heard.
We invite you to send a message to your Senators and Representative urging them to maintain strong oversight of Syria’s progress toward sanctions relief—particularly when it comes to protecting religious minorities and ensuring accountability for ongoing human rights abuses.
Your outreach matters. Members of Congress pay close attention to their constituents, and your voice can help ensure that U.S. policy reflects our shared commitment to human rights, religious freedom, and justice.
Take a moment today to send the letter and stand in support of those who remain at risk.

Urge the Administration to Pressure Syria Following Lifted Sanctions: Religious Minorities at Risk

As a supporter of the Alawites Association of the United States, I write to urge your continued leadership and oversight regarding U.S. policy toward Syria, particularly in light of the March 18, 2026 report due to the US on Syria’s progress toward meeting conditions for sanctions relief.
 
As Congress evaluates whether Syria has met the conditions required for sustained sanctions relief, we respectfully emphasize that the protection of religious minorities and the credible prosecution of crimes committed against them must remain central benchmarks. Recent findings from United Nations investigations indicate that sectarian violence—particularly against Alawite communities—has included patterns of killings targeting civilians on the basis of religious identity, with acts that may rise to the level of war crimes or crimes against humanity. 
 
While the Syrian government has taken preliminary steps[MOU1] , including the arrest of some suspects and the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, international observers continue to note that accountability efforts remain insufficient, particularly with respect to identifying responsibility among senior officials and ensuring comprehensive justice for victims. These gaps raise serious concerns about whether current reforms meet the threshold required to guarantee the safety and dignity of vulnerable religious communities.

For example, recent international observers have reported the indoctrination of extremist Islamic ideology to children, the seizure and militarization of Alawite, Christian, and other minority religious sites, and the continuation of the abduction of Alawite and other minority women in coastal and central governorates. Observers have also documented large-scale dismissals and forced transfers of public-sector employees affecting disproportionate numbers of Alawite workers. The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has likewise reported killings, abductions, sexual violence, and other grave violations affecting civilians across Syria, warning that minority communities remain vulnerable and that accountability mechanisms remain incomplete.
Furthermore, despite claims of accountability and the arrest of certain perpetrators, credible reports indicate that individuals involved in the coastal violence of March 2025)crimes that continue at a lower intensity)have reappeared in other areas, including Suwayda and the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo, raising serious concerns about the credibility of enforcement efforts.
At the same time, the peaceful Christian city of Al-Suqaylabiyah has recently come under armed attack with apparent sectarian motivations. Most notably, Christian communities across Syria have canceled Palm Sunday celebrations this year due to a pervasive sense of insecurity, underscoring the continued vulnerability of religious minorities despite official assurances.

At the same time, the broader regional escalation in the Middle East is placing additional strain on Syria’s already fragile infrastructure and humanitarian conditions. According to the March 18 United Nations Security Council briefing, ongoing regional conflict is contributing to increased displacement, civilian harm, and instability within Syria, further undermining efforts to protect civilians and rebuild essential systems. This environment heightens the risks faced by religious minorities, who are often disproportionately targeted during periods of instability.
 
Given these realities, I respectfully urge Congress to:
 
·       Ensure that any sustained consideration of sanctions relief is strictly conditioned on verifiable progress in protecting religious minorities, including Alawite, Christian, Druze, and other communities. Alternatively, request the Department of State consider targeted sanctions on those involved in ongoing persecution.
·       Require demonstrable, transparent, and independent investigations into past and ongoing abuses, with a clear pathway to prosecuting perpetrators at all levels.
·       Support robust oversight mechanisms, including regular reporting to Congress on the status of minority protections and accountability efforts.
·       Prioritize humanitarian and stabilization assistance that directly benefits vulnerable communities and strengthens local capacity to prevent sectarian violence.
 
The United States has a critical role to play in ensuring that Syria’s transition does not come at the expense of its most vulnerable populations. Upholding religious freedom and accountability is not only a moral imperative—it is essential to achieving long-term stability and preventing the recurrence of mass atrocities.
 
I am grateful for your leadership on human rights and international religious freedom and stand ready to support your efforts to ensure that U.S. policy reflects these core values.