Syria's ruler in Berlin

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) urgently appeals to the German government to disinvite Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. He is scheduled to visit Berlin on January 19, 2026. “We urge you not to roll out the red carpet in Berlin for a war criminal who is responsible for the murder of innocent people in Syria,” the STP emphasizes in a letter to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“Al-Sharaa is not a head of state, but a war criminal responsible for mass murders, expulsions, and systematic human rights violations,” emphasizes Dr. Kamal Sido, Middle East expert at the STP. The human rights organization supports the criminal complaint filed by the Kurdish community in Germany against al-Sharaa on November 6, 2025, and calls for his arrest upon entering German soil. “His invitation to Germany is an affront to the victims of his violence and a disregard for the values our country stands for,” said Sido.

Since coming to power in December 2024, al-Sharaa has been responsible for an unprecedented wave of violence against ethnic and religious minorities in Syria. According to the STP, between 30,000 and 60,000 Alawites were murdered, injured, or displaced in March 2025. Approximately 5,000 Druze—one percent of Syria's Druze population—were deliberately murdered. In recent days, the Islamist regime has attacked the Kurdish population in Aleppo. Kurds were shot, thrown from high-rise buildings, and entire families were wiped out. “Kurds and Alawites see no future in Syria under al-Sharaa, but they have no choice but to remain under this regime. They have no protective power. The Kurds are also being attacked by Turkey, a NATO partner of Germany,” said Sido.

“This regime has caused so much bloodshed within a year that a stable and peaceful Syria under its rule is no longer possible,” warns Sido. Instead of stability, the regime is producing further streams of refugees. “The German government is mistaken if it thinks that deportation deals with al-Sharaa will lead to a decline in Syrian refugees in Germany. Millions of Druze, Alawites, Kurds, and members of other minorities want to leave the country,“ said Sido. The hope of winning al-Sharaa in the global power struggle against Russia and China is also deceptive. ”Al-Sharaa has already been to Moscow to meet with Putin, and his ministers have been to China. He allows himself to be served by all sides – just like his ally Erdoğan," said Sido.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.