Remember Syrians’ plight: HRW calls on leaders not to attend World Cup opening in Russia

With the lives of over two million civilians at risk in Syria’s Idlib and Daraa governorates, world leaders should abstain from attending the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Moscow, on June 14, 2018, unless the Kremlin takes meaningful steps to protect them from chemical and conventional attacks, Human Rights Watch believes.

According to the human rights watchdog, the host of the 2018 World Cup is providing weapons, military support, and diplomatic cover to the Syrian government despite evidence that Syrian forces have deliberately and indiscriminately targeted civilians since 2013.

“In hosting one of the most televised events in the world, Russia is courting world public opinion and looking for respect. World leaders should signal to President Putin that unless he changes track and acts to end atrocities by Russian and Syrian forces in Syria, they won’t be in their seats in the VIP box with him on opening night,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

Autocratic leaders often seek to host popular sporting events as a way to present a positive image to the rest of the world, Roth stressed. In his view, world leaders should not allow a sporting event to gloss over a pattern of atrocities in Syria.

The FIFA World Cup is the premier global soccer contest. Billions of fans are expected to watch as 32 national teams play in stadiums in 11 Russian cities.

belsat.eu, following hrw.org

News