The United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on eight Syrian prisons run by President Bashar al-Assad’s intelligence apparatus and five senior officials who control the sites, citing human rights abuses.
In a press release on Wednesday, described the prisons as “sites of human rights abuses against political prisoners and other detainees.”
The Treasury also introduced sanctions against Syrian armed group Ahrar al-Sharqiya, operating in northern Syria, for abuses against civilians. Two of the group’s leaders were also targeted by sanctions, according to the statement.
The group stands of numerous crimes against civilians, specially Syrian Kurds, “including unlawful killings, abductions, torture, and seizures of private property,” the Treasury said.
“Today’s designations promote accountability for abuses committed against the Syrian people and deny rogue actors access to the international financial system,” said Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Andrea Gacki. “This action demonstrates the United States’ strong commitment to targeting human rights abuses in Syria, regardless of the perpetrator.”
The Treasury also issued a separate statement on Wednesday, imposing sanctions on a Turkey-based al-Qaeda financial facilitator for materially assisting the terror group.
It also imposed sanctions against one Syria-based fundraiser and recruiter for providing material support to Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham, an armed group previously sanctioned by Washington.
