The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) is proud to endorse Senate Bill S.3740 - Save the Kurds Act, and deeply appreciates the work done by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. This bill seeks to re-designate Hayat Tachrir Al-Sham and its affiliated groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, as well as re-impose sanctions recently lifted after the fall of the Assad regime. This bill takes important steps necessary to ensure the current government of Syria follows through on its promise to protect and ensure minority rights in the country – a promise they are so far failing to uphold.
Upon his ascension to power, President Al-Sharaa made bold, sweeping proclamations to protect the rights of minorities in the country. Immediately, Syrian Army forces attacked Druze communities to the south as well as Alawite & Christian communities along the Mediterranean coast. EMET is outraged by the ongoing persecution of these groups, including atrocities similar to those committed by Hamas against Israelis on October 7th.
In recent days, renewed hostilities in the north of Syria towards the Kurdish population have escalated into horrific acts of violence. The war’s end in 2024 was a cause for elation from many in the country who have suffered under the right of Assad, none more so than the Kurds who have long sought statehood and international recognition. The Kurdish people have been a steadfast ally of the United States throughout these struggles, taking up arms and sacrificing lives in the fight against ISIS and other extremist groups in the region. We owe them a policy that demands their protection, dignity and freedom.
The Caesar sanctions, a long standing US policy against the Assad regime which sought to limit gross human rights violations by fighting the regime economically, have recently been lifted. This move has been a show of good faith for president Sharaa, intended to help the Syrian people recover from a horrible war. This repeal did not come wholesale, It included many provisions to resume sanctions and for the US to take action should Al-Sharaa default on his promises and allow his regime to fall back into its terrorist roots.
Through these lens we must see the recent attacks on Kurdish communities as a promise broken to protect those that have sacrificed so much to help the United States in its goal of eradicating terror. We applaud Senators Graham and Blumenthal for standing up for our allies and seeing the urgent need for legislation that holds the Syrian government accountable for their actions.
EMET is a think tank and policy shop that specializes in the Middle East and its impact on Western civilization.
