Today marks the fourth anniversary of the chemical attack launched by the Syrian Army in Douma, eastern Ghouta. The victims of the attack are still seeking justice and accountability for those who took the decision and who carried out the chemical attack and killed dozens of residents. The Syrian government besieged Douma for more than 5 years and they used chemical weapons against those who had remained in the city to force them to leave the city. 

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons issued several reports where it documented that the Syrian government used chemical weapons more than 17 times. And this means that the regime has not completely eliminated its chemical weapons arsenal, and that it still retains its full capabilities. And those responsible for these attacks, from the head of the regime to the bottom of its chain of command, continue to enjoy impunity.

The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression calls on the international community that it must shoulder its responsibility. And to take serious steps in order to stop the Syrian government from using chemical weapons. The impunity and lack of accountability facilitated the use of chemical weapons by Russia to assassinate Putin’s opponents. And this explains why Russia has used its veto in the Security Council to protect the Syrian government several times.

At the beginning of of April 2022, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) – along with partner organizations – submitted to the investigation and prosecutorial bodies in Germany, France and Sweden a set of evidence and additional information about the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons, within the context of the lawsuits filed In each of these countries, against those directly responsible in the Syrian government for this crime.