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Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: EU imposes restrictive measures on five Syrian individuals associated with the former Assad regime for supporting crimes against humanity and for fueling sectarian violence

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU
Press release
23 June 2025 14:18

The Council today imposed restrictive measures under the European Union Global Human Rights Sanctions regime on five persons responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in Syria, including involvement in the violence in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025and supporting the use of chemical weapons against the civilian population under the al-Assad regime.

The new listings target three former members of the Syrian Republican Guard and Armed Forces responsible for many serious human rights violations under the al- Assad regime -including torture, extrajudicial killings and other cruel treatment of prisoners - and involved in the wave of violence that took place in March 2025. After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Miqdad Fatiha, Ghaith Dalla, and Suhayl al-Hasan formed militias that fueled sectarian tensions and incited violence, which escalated and resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.

Furthermore, the Council listed two prominent businessmen -Mudalal Khoury and Imad Khoury- who supported the former al-Assad regime and represented its business and financial interests in Russia, helping finance the severe crimes against humanity committed under the al-Assad regime, including the use of chemical weapons.

Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to them.

The Council will continue monitoring developments on the ground and stands ready to introduce further restrictive measures against human rights violators and those fuelling instability in Syria.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established on 7 December 2020, enables the EU to target individuals, entities and bodies - including state and non-state actors - responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. With the latest updates, the restrictive measures currently apply to 123 persons and 36 entities.

On 4 December 2023, the Council prolonged the framework for restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for three years, until 8 December 2026. The listings under the regime expire and are reviewed every 12 months.

The EU follows the developments in this domain closely and, as a result, ensures that the listings are kept under constant review.