SUBCHAPTER VII—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA

§8791. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed against citizens of Syria or their family members

(a) In general

The President shall impose sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b).

(b) List of persons who are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights abuses

(1) In general

Not later than 120 days after August 10, 2012, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons who are officials of the Government of Syria or persons acting on behalf of that Government that the President determines, based on credible evidence, are responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Syria or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Syria.

(2) Updates of list

The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph (1)—

(A) not later than 300 days after August 10, 2012, and every 180 days thereafter; and

(B) as new information becomes available.

(3) Form of report; public availability

(A) Form

The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(B) Public availability

The unclassified portion of the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public and posted on the websites of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.

(4) Consideration of data from other countries and nongovernmental organizations

In preparing the list required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider credible data already obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations, including organizations in Syria, that monitor the human rights abuses of the Government of Syria.

(c) Sanctions described

The sanctions described in this subsection are sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including blocking of property and restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions and the exportation of property, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

(Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, §702, Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1265.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section, see section 8795 of this title.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is title II of Pub. L. 95–223, Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1626, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§1701 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1701 of Title 50 and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

For short title of this subchapter as the "Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012", see section 701 of Pub. L. 112–158, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.

Report on Syria Civilian Protection

Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, §8369(b)–(d), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1905, provided that:

"(b) Report.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025], and every 180 days thereafter for the following 4 years, the President shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate an unclassified report, with a classified annex if necessary, that certifies whether the Government of Syria—

"(1) is taking concrete and tangible action to eliminate the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda and its affiliates, in partnership with the United States, and prevent an ISIS resurgence;

"(2) has removed, or is taking steps to remove, foreign fighters from senior roles in the Government of Syria, including those in the state and security institutions of Syria;

"(3) is upholding religious and ethnic minority rights in Syria, including with respect to freedom of worship and belief, and allowing for fair and equitable representation in the government, including ministries and parliament;

"(4) is not taking unilateral, unprovoked military action against its neighbors, including the State of Israel, and continues to make progress towards international security agreements, as appropriate;

"(5) is taking tangible and credible steps to implement the March 10, 2025, agreement as negotiated between the Government of Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces including commensurate security force integration measures and political representation;

"(6) is taking steps to effectively combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in line with international standards, and not knowingly financing, assisting (monetarily or through weapons transfers), or harboring sanctioned individuals or groups (including foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists) that are harmful to the national security of the United States or allies and partners of the United States in the region;

"(7) is actively prosecuting those that have committed serious abuses of internationally recognized human rights since December 8, 2024, including those responsible for the massacre of religious minorities; and

"(8) is taking verifiable steps to combat the illicit production and international illicit proliferation of narcotics, including Captagon.

"(c) Notification to the Government of Syria.—The President shall inform the Government of Syria of the findings of the report required under subsection (b).

"(d) Imposition of Sanctions.—

"(1) In general.—If the President is unable to make an affirmative certification under subsection (b) for two consecutive reporting periods, the President may consider whether to impose targeted sanctions on individuals under existing authorities until the President makes an affirmative certification under subsection (b).

"(2) Exception.—The sanctions described in this subsection shall not include sanctions on the importation of goods.

"(3) Defined term.—In this subsection, the term 'good' means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data."

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection

Pub. L. 116–92, div. F, title LXXIV, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2291, as amended by Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LI, §5123, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2431, which related to the imposition of sanctions and other methods to protect civilians in Syria and support the transition to a government in Syria that respects the rule of law, human rights, and peaceful co-existence with its neighbors, was repealed by Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, §8369(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1905.

Syrian War Crimes Accountability

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XII, §1232, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2035, provided that:

"(a) Report on Accountability for War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide in Syria.—

"(1) In general.—The Secretary of State shall submit a report on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 2018] and another such report not later than 180 days after the Secretary of State determines that the violence in Syria has ceased.

"(2) Elements.—The reports required under paragraph (1) shall include—

"(A) a description of alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated during the civil war in Syria, including—

"(i) incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and all forces fighting on its behalf;

"(ii) incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed by violent extremist groups, anti-government forces, and any other combatants in the conflict;

"(iii) any incidents that may violate the principle of medical neutrality and, if possible, the identification of the individual or individuals who engaged in or organized such incidents; and

"(iv) if possible, a description of the conventional and unconventional weapons used for such crimes and the origins of such weapons; and

"(B) a description and assessment by the Department of State Office of Global Criminal Justice, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, and other appropriate agencies of programs that the United States Government has undertaken to ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated against the people of Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict, including programs—

"(i) to train investigators within and outside of Syria on how to document, investigate, develop findings of, and identify and locate alleged perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, including—

     "(I) the number of United States Government or contract personnel currently designated to work full-time on these issues; and

     "(II) the identification of the authorities and appropriations being used to support such training efforts;

"(ii) to promote and prepare for a transitional justice process or processes for the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria beginning in March 2011;

"(iii) to document, collect, preserve, and protect evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria, including support for Syrian, foreign, and international nongovernmental organizations, and other entities, including the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; and

"(iv) to assess the influence of accountability measures on efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the Syrian conflict during the reporting period.

"(3) Form.—The reports required under paragraph (1) may be submitted in unclassified or classified form, but shall include a publicly available annex.

"(4) Protection of witnesses and evidence.—The Secretary shall take due care to ensure that the identification of witnesses and physical evidence are not publicly disclosed in a manner that might place such persons at risk of harm or encourage the destruction of evidence by the Government of Syria, violent extremist groups, anti-government forces, or any other combatants or participants in the conflict.

"(b) Transitional Justice Study.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 2018], the Secretary of State (acting through appropriate officials and offices, which may include the Office of Global Criminal Justice), after consultation with the Department of Justice, the United States Agency for International Development, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall—

"(1) complete a study of the feasibility and desirability of potential transitional justice mechanisms for Syria, including a hybrid tribunal, to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated in Syria beginning in March 2011; and

"(2) submit a detailed report of the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), including recommendations on which transitional justice mechanisms the United States Government should support, why such mechanisms should be supported, and what type of support should be offered, to—

"(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

"(c) Technical Assistance Authorized.—

"(1) In general.—The Secretary of State (acting through appropriate officials and offices, which may include the Office of Global Criminal Justice), after consultation with the Department of Justice and other appropriate Federal agencies, is authorized to provide appropriate assistance to support entities that, with respect to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, all forces fighting on its behalf, and all non-state armed groups fighting in the country, including violent extremist groups in Syria beginning in March 2011—

"(A) identify suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;

"(B) collect, document, and protect evidence of crimes and preserve the chain of custody for such evidence;

"(C) conduct criminal investigations;

"(D) build Syria's investigative and judicial capacities and support prosecutions in the domestic courts of Syria, provided that President Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power;

"(E) support investigations by third-party states, as appropriate; or

"(F) protect witnesses that may be helpful to prosecutions or other transitional justice mechanisms.

"(2) Additional assistance.—The Secretary of State, after consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and the appropriate congressional committees, and taking into account the findings of the transitional justice study required under subsection (b), is authorized to provide assistance to support the creation and operation of transitional justice mechanisms, including a potential hybrid tribunal, to prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide in Syria beginning in March 2011.

"(3) Briefing.—The Secretary of State shall provide detailed, biannual briefings to the appropriate congressional committees describing the assistance provided to entities described in paragraph (1).

"(d) State Department Rewards for Justice Program.—[Amended section 2708(b)(10) of this title.]

"(e) Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.—The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations to advocate that the United Nations Human Rights Council, while the United States remains a member, annually extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic until the Commission has completed its investigation of all alleged violations of international human rights laws beginning in March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.

"(f) Effect of Section.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to violate the American Servicemembers' Protection Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 7421 et seq.).

"(g) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—

"(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

"(2) Genocide.—The term 'genocide' means any offense described in section 1091(a) of title 18, United States Code.

"(3) Hybrid tribunal.—The term 'hybrid tribunal' means a temporary criminal tribunal that involves a combination of domestic and international lawyers, judges, and other professionals to prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.

"(4) Transitional justice.—The term 'transitional justice' means the range of judicial, nonjudicial, formal, informal, retributive, and restorative measures employed by countries transitioning out of armed conflict or repressive regimes—

"(A) to redress legacies of atrocities; and

"(B) to promote long-term, sustainable peace.

"(5) War crime.—The term 'war crime' has the meaning given the term in section 2441(c) of title 18, United States Code."

§8792. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human rights abuses

(a) In general

The President shall impose sanctions described in section 8791(c) of this title with respect to—

(1) each person on the list required by subsection (b); and

(2) any person that—

(A) is a successor entity to a person on the list;

(B) owns or controls a person on the list, if the person that owns or controls the person on the list had actual knowledge or should have known that the person on the list engaged in the activity described in subsection (b)(2) for which the person was included in the list; or

(C) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the person on the list, if the person owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with (as the case may be), the person on the list knowingly engaged in the activity described in subsection (b)(2) for which the person was included in the list.

(b) List

(1) In general

Not later than 120 days after August 10, 2012, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the President determines have knowingly engaged in an activity described in paragraph (2) on or after August 10, 2012.

(2) Activity described

(A) In general

A person engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the person—

(i) transfers, or facilitates the transfer of, goods or technologies described in subparagraph (C) to Syria; or

(ii) provides services with respect to goods or technologies described in subparagraph (C) after such goods or technologies are transferred to Syria.

(B) Applicability to contracts and other agreements

A person engages in an activity described in subparagraph (A) without regard to whether the activity is carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered into before, on, or after August 10, 2012.

(C) Goods or technologies described

Goods or technologies described in this subparagraph are goods or technologies that the President determines are likely to be used by the Government of Syria or any of its agencies or instrumentalities to commit human rights abuses against the people of Syria, including—

(i) firearms or ammunition (as those terms are defined in section 921 of title 18), rubber bullets, police batons, pepper or chemical sprays, stun grenades, electroshock weapons, tear gas, water cannons, or surveillance technology; or

(ii) sensitive technology.

(D) Sensitive technology defined

(i) In general

For purposes of subparagraph (C), the term "sensitive technology" means hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other technology, that the President determines is to be used specifically—

(I) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Syria; or

(II) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Syria.

(ii) Exception

The term "sensitive technology" does not include information or informational materials the exportation of which the President does not have the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to section 1702(b)(3) of title 50.

(3) Special rule to allow for termination of sanctionable activity

The President shall not be required to include a person on the list required by paragraph (1) if the President certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that—

(A) the person is no longer engaging in, or has taken significant verifiable steps toward stopping, the activity described in paragraph (2) for which the President would otherwise have included the person on the list; and

(B) the President has received reliable assurances that the person will not knowingly engage in any activity described in paragraph (2) in the future.

(4) Updates of list

The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph (1)—

(A) not later than 300 days after August 10, 2012, and every 180 days thereafter; and

(B) as new information becomes available.

(5) Form of report; public availability

(A) Form

The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(B) Public availability

The unclassified portion of the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public and posted on the websites of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.

(Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, §703, Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1266.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section, see section 8795 of this title.

§8793. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in censorship or other forms of repression in Syria

(a) In general

The President shall impose sanctions described in section 8791(c) of this title with respect to each person on the list required by subsection (b).

(b) List of persons who engage in censorship

(1) In general

Not later than 120 days after August 10, 2012, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the President determines have engaged in censorship, or activities relating to censorship, in a manner that prohibits, limits, or penalizes the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression by citizens of Syria.

(2) Updates of list

The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph (1)—

(A) not later than 300 days after August 10, 2012, and every 180 days thereafter; and

(B) as new information becomes available.

(3) Form of report; public availability

(A) Form

The list required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(B) Public availability

The unclassified portion of the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public and posted on the websites of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.

(Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, §704, Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1268.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section, see section 8795 of this title.

§8794. Waiver

The President may waive the requirement to include a person on a list required by section 8791, 8792, or 8793 of this title or to impose sanctions pursuant to any such section if the President—

(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States; and

(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the reasons for that determination.

(Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, §705, Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1268.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section, see section 8795 of this title.

§8795. Termination

(a) In general

The provisions of this subchapter and any sanctions imposed pursuant to this subchapter shall terminate on the date on which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees—

(1) the certification described in subsection (b); and

(2) a certification that—

(A) the Government of Syria is democratically elected and representative of the people of Syria; or

(B) a legitimate transitional government of Syria is in place.

(b) Certification described

A certification described in this subsection is a certification by the President that the Government of Syria—

(1) has unconditionally released all political prisoners;

(2) has ceased its practices of violence, unlawful detention, torture, and abuse of citizens of Syria engaged in peaceful political activity;

(3) has ceased its practice of procuring sensitive technology designed to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Syria, or to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict the right of citizens of Syria to freedom of expression;

(4) has ceased providing support for foreign terrorist organizations and no longer allows such organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to maintain facilities in territory under the control of the Government of Syria; and

(5) has ceased the development and deployment of medium- and long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles;

(6) is not pursuing or engaged in the research, development, acquisition, production, transfer, or deployment of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, and has provided credible assurances that it will not engage in such activities in the future; and

(7) has agreed to allow the United Nations and other international observers to verify that the Government of Syria is not engaging in such activities and to assess the credibility of the assurances provided by that Government.

(c) Suspension of sanctions after election of democratic government

If the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees the certification described in subsection (a)(2), the President may suspend the provisions of this subchapter and any sanctions imposed under this subchapter for not more than 180 days to allow time for a certification described in subsection (b) to be submitted.

(Pub. L. 112–158, title VII, §706, Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1268.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original a reference to title VII of Pub. L. 112–158, which enacted this subchapter and provisions set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.