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The US State Department has decided to sanction Esma Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and her family.
Esma Assad, of British descent, and her doctor’s father, Fawaz Akras, who still lives in London and is a British citizen, her mother Seher Otri, her brother Firas Akras and her uncle Eyad Akras were placed on the Department’s sanctions list. from the United States Treasury.
The two lists announced by the U.S. Treasury Department and the State Department to impose sanctions include a total of 18 individuals and institutions. Kifah Mulhem, head of the Syrian army’s intelligence unit, and Lina al Kinaya, a close adviser to the Central Bank of Syria and Assad, are among these lists.
Esma Assad had previously received a sanction decision in June, but this time, family members who are all British citizens were also included in this scope and the sanctions were extended.
Cardiologist Fawaz Akras is also president of the Anglo-Syrian Community.
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Esma Assad of “obstructing efforts to find a political solution to the war in Syria” in a statement:
“Today, the Foreign Ministry imposes sanctions on Esma Assad for obstructing efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Esma Assad supported his efforts to gain economic and political power on behalf of the regime through so-called charities. and non-governmental organizations.
“The Assad and Akras families have increased their illegal wealth through their illegitimate networks in Europe, the Gulf and elsewhere, to the detriment of the Syrian people. Meanwhile, the Syrian people continue to wait in long lines for bread, gasoline and medicine.” .
‘COOPERATION WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT’
Joel Rayburn, special envoy for Syria, appointed by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, responded to journalists’ questions on the subject through a teleconference.
Esma stated that they are working in cooperation with the British government to impose sanctions against Assad’s family living in the UK, saying: “Secondary sanctions will also be imposed on those who enter the list of two ministries on Tuesday and those who do business. or business “.
“This is the way to target Bashar Assad’s assets.”
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NEW SANCTIONS APPLY UNDER THE CAESAR LAW
The sanctions announced on Tuesday were issued under the so-called Caesar Syria Civil Protection Law, passed in 2019. This law covers Assad and his family members who do business in the energy, construction and banking sectors.
It was announced that the law called the Caesar Law was intended for the Bashar Assad administration to “stop murderous attacks on civilians” and “force a process of peaceful political transition.”
The law derives its name from a military photographer codenamed “Caesar.” It is claimed that this photographer took more than 52,000 photographs documenting torture and death in Syrian prisons.
Caesar Law;
– Provide substantial financial, material and technological support directly to the Syrian government or foreigners conducting military activities in Syria on behalf of the Syrian, Russian and Iranian governments;
– The supply or sale of goods, services, technology or information to assist the Syrian government in the production of oil and natural gas, the purchase and maintenance of military aircraft, construction and engineering projects;
– In case of signing contracts for projects related to the reconstruction of areas under the control of the Syrian government and its allies in Syria, it authorizes the President of the United States to impose sanctions on the necessary foreigners.
Esma Assad, Bashar Assad and their eldest son, Hafez Assad, were included in the first sanctions under the Caesar Law in June. Syrians dealing primarily with hydrocarbon products were on the first sanctions list.
This time, it also targeted people who do business with Syria, regardless of their citizenship.
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Both the US and the European Union (EU) banned doing business with the Syrian state and placed hundreds of companies and individuals doing business on their sanctions list.
