By M.Abo Malak Alahwazi
The Syrian crisis began in 2011 with peaceful protests in Daraa following the arrest and torture of teenagers accused of anti-government graffiti. Demonstrators called for democratic reforms, greater freedoms, and an end to corruption under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The government responded with violent crackdowns, including live ammunition against protesters, resulting in deaths and widespread outrage. By mid-2011, protests spread across the country, escalating into an armed conflict between the government and opposition groups. By 2012, this conflict had become a full-scale civil war involving multiple factions, including the Syrian government, opposition forces, Islamist militants, and international actors like Iran.
The Right to Resist Oppression
The principle of self-determination, closely tied to human rights, supports the right of people to resist oppressive regimes. While international law does not explicitly recognize a “right to revolution,” several frameworks reinforce the legitimacy of resisting tyranny:
1. Right to Self-Determination (UN Charter and Related Instruments):
o Article 1(2) of the United Nations Charter affirms the right of peoples to self-determination, enabling them to determine their political status and pursue development freely.
o UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (1960)emphasizes the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.
2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948):
o Article 21(3) states that the will of the people shall be the basis of governmental authority.
o The preamble acknowledges resistance to oppression as a last resort: “It is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”
3. Principles of Human Rights and Justice:
o Regimes that violate international human rights laws, including systematic abuses such as genocide, war crimes, or suppression of political freedoms, lose their legitimacy under international law.
o Actions to overthrow such regimes can align with the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework, which supports international intervention in cases of mass atrocities. However, R2P is typically applied to external interventions, not internal uprisings.
4. Customary International Law and Historical Precedent:
o Anti-colonial struggles and movements against apartheid have been retrospectively legitimized under the principles of justice, equality, and human dignity.
Iran’s Role in the Syrian Conflict
Iran’s involvement in Syria has been multifaceted and has evolved since the start of the Syrian civil war. Iran has been a critical ally of the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad, contributing to the conflict in various ways:
1. Military Support:
o Advisors and Troops: Iran has deployed military advisors from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly the elite Quds Force, to train and assist Syrian government forces.
o Proxy Forces: Iran has organized and supported various Shiite militia groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah and other militias recruited from Iraq, Afghanistan (Fatimiyoun Brigade), and Pakistan (Zainabiyoun Brigade). These forces have been instrumental in ground operations to support Assad’s regime.
o Weapons Supply: Iran has provided arms and logistical support to bolster the Syrian military.
2. Economic and Financial Aid:
o Iran has extended loans and financial assistance to Syria to help stabilize the regime’s economy.
o Iranian companies have secured contracts for infrastructure reconstruction, oil, and electricity projects in Syria as part of post-war rebuilding efforts.
3. Strategic Goals:
o Preserving a Key Ally: Syria is a cornerstone of Iran’s regional alliance, often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes Hezbollah and other groups opposing Israel and Western influence in the Middle East.
o Access to Lebanon and Hezbollah: Syria provides a vital geographic link for Iran to supply Hezbollah in Lebanon, enhancing its deterrence against Israel.
o Countering U.S. and Regional Rivals: Iran views its role in Syria as a way to counterbalance the influence of the U.S., Israel, and rival regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Criticisms and Consequences:
• Regional Tensions: Iran’s involvement in Syria has heightened tensions with Israel, which frequently targets Iranian assets in Syria through airstrikes.
• Civilian Impact: Iranian-backed militias have been accused of exacerbating sectarian tensions and contributing to human rights violations in the conflict.
• Global Perceptions: Western and regional actors often criticize Iran’s role in Syria as part of a broader effort to expand its influence in the Middle East.
Violations of International Law
The principles of human rights and justice, along with the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework, support international intervention in cases of mass atrocities. These frameworks align with the Syrian people’s right to determine their political future and pursue development freely, as enshrined in international law. However, Iran’s support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime contradicts these principles, enabling the continuation of crimes against the Syrian population.
Bashar al-Assad has effectively lost legitimacy under international law, given his regime’s widespread violations of human rights and disregard for the will of the Syrian people, the majority of whom oppose his rule. Iran’s presence in Syria—whether sanctioned by Assad or not—constitutes a clear violation of several fundamental principles of international law. These include:
1. Principle of State Sovereignty:
o Iran’s military presence violates Syria’s sovereignty as enshrined in Articles 2(1) and 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibit the use of force against a state’s territorial integrity or political independence.
2. Prohibition of Intervention:
o Supporting armed groups undermines Syria’s sovereignty, violating the principle of non-intervention under customary international law.
3. Support for Non-State Armed Groups:
o By supporting militias like Hezbollah and other foreign fighters in Syria, Iran violate the prohibition on assisting non-state actors engaged in armed conflict that destabilize a region or lead to human rights abuses. This is linked to the prohibition of the use of force under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
o Iran also should be held accountable under the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism because it supports groups which areengaged in terrorism.
4. International Humanitarian Law (IHL):
o Iranian-backed militias have been implicated in war crimes, including targeting civilians and engaging in sectarian violence. Iran bears state responsibilityfor aiding such violations, as outlined in the GenevaConventions.
5. Violation of UN Resolutions:
o Iran’s military and logistical support for Hezbollah and other militias in Syria contravenes UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon and indirectly addresses Iran’s support for Hezbollah.
o Supplying arms to conflict zones breaches international arms embargoes and sanctions.
Conclusion
Iran’s involvement in Syria has deepened the conflict, exacerbated human rights violations, and violated international law. Supporting Bashar al-Assad, who has lost legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the international community, further undermines the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and human rights. Accountability under international frameworks is essential to address these violations and support the Syrian people in their pursuit of justice and freedom. As Iranian regime using the same strategy against ALAHWAZ and others like Kordish and Balochies and other people with different ethnics, which give them all the right to oppose the Iranian regime and demand their right to determine their faith and future based on the International Laws and demand to end the Iranian occupation on their lands.
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