PARIS – Germany will suspend support for the Syrian government unless it takes serious action to halt religious and ethnic abuses, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday during a joint press conference in Paris with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot.
Wadephul stressed that any future German assistance would be conditional on Damascus’ commitment to protecting civilians and stopping persecution against minorities, particularly the Druze population in Sweida, where violence has escalated sharply in recent days.
“Germany will not support any government that fails to ensure an inclusive political process and protect its people from killings or religious and ethnic oppression,” he said. “Responsibility lies with the Syrian government.”
The comments come as international calls grow for an immediate halt to the fighting in southern Syria. The United Nations and several Western countries have urged a comprehensive investigation into alleged abuses against civilians in Sweida and demanded urgent protection for the population.
Related: Syria and Israel reach ceasefire deal in Sweida – U.S. envoy
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an end to the bloodshed, urging the creation of a new Syria based on dignity and equality. He said protecting all Syrians must be a top priority and called on the government to ensure accountability for serious violations, including killings and forced displacement.
Several reports from the UN Human Rights Office point to widespread abuses involving government forces and armed groups in the area. These include extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and attacks on homes.
On Saturday, U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack announced an ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and Israel to halt fighting in southern Syria’s Sweida province.
