In December 2024, after more than fifty years, the reign of terror and oppression by the Assad regime in Syria came to an end. The country is now working toward a future under the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While the international community is focused on the direction HTS will take, an arguably even more important question is being overshadowed: what will happen to the economic sanctions imposed by Western countries since 2011?
Economic Sanctions
As the Syrian state begins to rebuild, the European Union (EU) remains in a wait-and-see mode. The Netherlands sent Special Envoy Gijs Gerlag to urge the interim administration to implement an inclusive political transition that guarantees human rights. HTS traces its roots to the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra, which was affiliated with al-Qaeda and other Islamist factions. Although HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani has made efforts to distance the organization from such fundamentalist groups, concerns persist within the international community about the potential Islamic direction HTS may pursue. As long as this remains unclear, the EU will not lift the economic sanctions against Syria, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Following escalating violence and unacceptable human rights violations by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the EU, together with the United States, imposed sanctions in 2011 targeting specific individuals, businesses, and the Syrian economy as a whole. These included bans on importing raw materials from Syria and on investments in certain Syrian industries. While the Assad family’s wealth was estimated at two billion dollars in 2022, the rest of the population suffered severely. Due in part to the heavy economic sanctions, food security, the healthcare system, and the agricultural sector in Syria have been severely weakened. Humanitarian aid efforts, especially after the 2023 earthquake, were also seriously hindered by these sanctions.
The Unintended Consequences for Women
The effects of these sanctions are particularly felt by Syrian women. This is notable given the emphasis Western countries place on the importance of women’s rights in the new Syria. According to Lina AbiRafeh, director of the Arab Institute for Women at the American University of Beirut, the disruptive sanctions act as a catalyst for violence against women. Sexual violence and exploitation have increased due to dire economic conditions and widespread public frustration. Furthermore, organizations working to support the safety and well-being of Syrian women are struggling with a lack of funding, as sanctions complicate the delivery of international aid.
Syria’s Future
The question remains whether the moderate stance HTS is currently taking will be indicative of the political path it intends to follow in governing Syria in the coming years. However, it is important that the international community does not fixate solely on how fundamentalist the organization may be. After years of civil war, the Syrian people need more than just a government that guarantees their rights and freedoms—they also need a stable economy in which they can build a future. The EU and the US must now take concrete steps, such as easing sanctions that are obstructing economic growth. As long as the international community remains passive, the future of millions of Syrians—who have borne the brunt of this conflict for years—will remain uncertain.
This article was published by Trouw: Opinie: Versoepel nu de sancties tegen Syrië | Trouw
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