Canada adds Syrian officials to sanctions list

News Release

April 14, 2017 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada

Canada supports the Syrian people and is working with the international community to find a solution to end the war in Syria.

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced new sanctions against the Assad regime. Canada’s Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations have been amended to list 27 additional individuals who are now subject to an asset freeze and dealings prohibition.

These individuals are high-ranking officials in the Assad regime. Adding their names to the sanctions list is part of additional international pressure on the regime to immediately end indiscriminate violence against its own people, like this month’s chemical weapons attack, and engage in meaningful negotiations.

Canada is focused on supporting the Syrian people. It has committed $1.6 billion to efforts in the region to provide humanitarian, security, stabilization and development assistance, in addition to having welcomed over 40,000 Syrian refugees to Canada.

Quotes

“Today’s new sanctions against key officials are part of our continued efforts to increase pressure on the Assad regime to stop the violence against innocent children, women and men. Last week’s chemical weapons attack in southern Idlib is a war crime and is unacceptable. Canada is working with its allies to end the war in Syria and hold those responsible to account.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick Facts

  • Canada reviews its sanctions on an ongoing basis and takes action as appropriate.

  • Canada contributes to investigations on the use of chemical weapons and the collection of evidence to support the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.

  • Canada is contributing more than $1.6 billion over the course of three years toward its approach to security, stabilization, and humanitarian and development assistance in response to the crises in Iraq and Syria and their impacts on neighbouring countries.

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