Minister condemns violence against civilians in Syria

Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, condemns the authorities in Syria for the violence by Syrian security forces against civilians, for mass arrests and torture. This violence is in violation of international human rights obligations and a cruel attack on the rightful demands of the Syrian public for reforms and democratic development.

The foreign minister supports calls on President Bashar al-Assad to resign and clear the way for the demands of the Syrian people for more democracy and freedom.

Foreign minister Skarphéðinsson insists that the Syrian authorities put an immediate end to violence and release those who have been detained as prisoners of conscience. The Syrian authorities have ignored appeals by the United Nations Security Council to end human rights violations. It is high time that the Syrian authorities do so.