A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.
OPINION:
President Trump has set the stage for what could mean freedom and protection for millions of religious minorities who face daily violence at the hands of government-backed fighters. That is, if he chooses to hold Syria’s new transitional government accountable for the protection and inclusion of the country’s historic ethno-religious communities, including Christians, Alawites, Kurds and Druze.
Mr. Trump is set to welcome Syria’s new leader, President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to the White House today, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s fragile transition. The meeting could open the door to genuine inclusion and protection for all Syrians — if the administration continues to pressure Mr. al-Sharaa to fulfill his commitments to democracy and pluralism.
Syria stands at a critical crossroads. The people have risen up and demanded better leadership, leading to the ouster of President Bashar Assad, whose regime ruled with an iron fist and allegedly was responsible for many war crimes. The United States and much of the international community have welcomed Syria’s transitional government and its new leader, who was received the United Nations General Assembly this year as a symbol of cautious optimism.
For years, the U.S. enforced the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. These sanctions were designed to cripple the Assad regime’s war economy and pressure Damascus toward reform. Those sanctions, combined with the determination of the Syrian people, eventually forced the regime’s collapse, giving Syrians fresh hope for a representative government that reflects the nation’s rich tapestry of ethnic and religious identities, from the historically Christian and Kurdish areas in the north and the Alawite communities of Homs to the Druze strongholds around Sweida and the pluralistic neighborhoods of Damascus where freedom of worship once thrived.
Yet with this new opportunity comes a familiar challenge. Syria is not yet realizing the fruits of its valiant uprising.
Mr. al-Sharaa’s past is well known. Once a militia commander, he has vowed to overcome that legacy through fair elections and cooperation on the world stage. Yet troubling signs persist.
On March 7, coordinated attacks on Alawite villages left more than 1,000 people dead. The perpetrators have not been held accountable. During his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. al-Sharaa, who just a few months ago carried a $10 million bounty on his head, vowed to build a Syria that “teaches the world the meaning of humanity and coexistence.”
Yet over the summer, bomb attacks targeted Christian churches, Alawite women and girls were abducted and a Druze cleric was kidnapped. Schools have been ordered to enforce stricter dress codes for girls, in some cases requiring them to cover even their eyes — reimposing the archaic practices of strict Shariah enforcement.
Such acts undermine Syria’s promises of reform and threaten to turn the revolution’s promise of freedom into another chapter of repression.
Through its diplomatic and economic leverage, the U.S. now has a real opportunity to help Mr. al-Sharaa make good on his pledges. Recent amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Chris Van Hollen, seek to codify the conditional easing of sanctions under the Caesar Act. The legislation requires Mr. al-Sharaa to report to the U.S. government every 180 days on measurable progress toward ending violence and discrimination against religious minorities.
These conditions are essential. Sanctions relief must remain contingent on demonstrable accountability, especially for crimes committed against Christians, Alawites, Kurds, Druze and other vulnerable groups. Only through such mechanisms can Washington ensure that engagement with Damascus strengthens reform rather than rewarding regression.
Last month’s parliamentary elections raised further concern. Many of the nominees were hand-selected by political insiders and do not reflect Syria’s remarkable diversity. The new legislature includes only one Christian woman and a conspicuous absence of Alawites and other minority representatives.
If Syria’s revolution is to mean anything, the country must build a government that mirrors the people it claims to represent. Mr. al-Sharaa’s legitimacy — and the international community’s willingness to partner with him — will depend on whether his administration truly protects all Syrians, regardless of creed or ethnicity.
As members of the Syrian diaspora, we call on Mr. Trump to urge Mr. al-Sharaa, during their upcoming White House meeting, to honor his commitments. An ally of the U.S. must be one who upholds the rule of law, defends the rights of all citizens and protects historically marginalized communities.
Syria has the chance to transform itself from an exporter of crisis into an example of reconciliation and renewal, but that transformation will not happen without accountability, inclusion and a commitment to justice.
As Mr. al-Sharaa said at the United Nations, Syria can become “an opportunity for peace for Syria and the region.” For that promise to be realized, his government must protect its people — not persecute them — and the U.S. must hold him to that standard.
The future of Syria’s minorities depends on whether the revolution’s victory is followed by justice or replaced by another form of tyranny. Mr. Trump now has the opportunity and the moral obligation to ensure that America’s engagement with Syria advances the cause of freedom and coexistence for all.
• Morhaf Ibrahim is president of the Alawites Association of the United States. Richard Ghazal is executive director of In Defense of Christians, a Washington-based advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Christianity in the Middle East.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.