UAE invites Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to COP28

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will reportedly welcome Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the global UN climate conference COP28, with the leader believed to be linked to rampant brutality civilized society and human rights defenders will be left go out in the cold.

If Assad attends, it will be his first appearance at a global conference since before the Syrian war broke out in 2011.

UAE shows little leadership on core issues like COP28 phasing Phasing out fossil fuels and halting new oil and gas expansion now appears poised to help Assad boost his image despite his oversight of crimes against humanity against his own people. If Assad heads to Dubai, it will be his third visit to the country since 2022. During any of his visits, the UAE government has not spoken publicly about crimes committed under his rule.

The Syrian government has committed serious crimes on a massive scale, displacing millions of people from their homes.Humanitarian aid continues weaponized Moved by the government, away from the population opposed to Assad’s rule. war crime Continued: In November 2022, Syrian government forces Discarding prohibited cluster munitions A camp for internally displaced people in northwestern Syria.

At the same time, the Arab countries led by the United Arab Emirates have rush Normalize relations with the Assad government without claiming responsibility for the grave abuses committed over the past 12 years. The Arab League readmits Syria on May 7, 2023, after suspending it in 2011, and apparently did not demand that Syria respect the human rights of its people.

While Assad will be welcome, it is unclear whether independent members of UAE civil society will be able to meaningfully participate in COP28 climate Given the country’s harsh repression and completely closed civic space. Since 2011, UAE authorities have continued to crack down on freedom of expression and association, arrest and imprisonment Dozens of government critics and activistincluding Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent Emirati human rights defender.

More importantly, the UAE appointment Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) the most important Fossil fuels company, as the chairman of COP28,.he will maintain His role at ADNOC during his presidency of the COP. Recent ADNOC Announce It is expanding all aspects of its fossil fuel business.

It is outrageous that a conference designed to spur ambitious climate action was used to bring the Assad government back to the international stage without any attempt to ensure accountability for its widespread abuses. Governments participating in COP28 should ensure that serious crimes committed under Assad’s rule are investigated and prosecuted.