According to a report released by Amnesty International today, 13,000 opponents of Bashar al-Assad were secretly executed by hanging in the Prison of Saydnaya in the first five years of Syria’s civil war, along with others who died from starvation and torture. The report also suggests the executions could still be going on.
S&D Group vice-president Victor Boştinaru MEP said:
"This report further indicts Bashar al-Assad and adds to the many atrocities already committed by the Syrian authorities during the long war in Syria. These executions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"We strongly support Amnesty international in their call to the international community to make sure thorough investigations take place at Saydnaya and in the rest of Syria. This should include international independent monitors.
"We have to make all efforts necessary to ensure such actions stop immediately."
