Shafaq News – Washington
Dozens of Syrian American lawyers, doctors, businessleaders, and activists gathered on Thursday at the US Capitol to urge lawmakersto repeal the Caesar Act sanctions that have constrained Syria’s economy since2020.
The advocacy campaign—organized by the Syrian AmericanCouncil and allied groups—focused on a bill introduced by RepublicanRepresentative Joe Wilson to eliminate the sanctions entirely, with delegatesspending the day lobbying members of Congress.
Mohammad Alaa Ghanem, co-founder of the SyrianAmerican lobby and head of political affairs at the council, told Shafaq Newsthat temporary waivers granted by past administrations are inadequate, warningthat foreign investment will remain frozen as long as the law stands.
After a morning strategy session, participants dividedinto teams to press lawmakers, with attorney Samir Sabounji stressing to ouragency that the matter now rests with Congress, while Cuban American activistAlberto Hernandez framed repeal as both a Syrian recovery issue and a USnational security concern.
Lina Arkaoui met Representative Greg Stanton, arguingthat lifting sanctions would open the door to reconstruction and allowdisplaced Syrians to return after years of war. Organizers also pointed tobipartisan interest, citing backing from Representative Maxine Waters andSenator Jeanne Shaheen.
At day’s end, Wilson displayed a photo of US PresidentDonald Trump with Syrian transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, describing thesanctions as “rigid” measures that deter investment and delay refugee returns.
While noting that he is working with Armed ServicesCommittee colleagues on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act toignite debate on sanctions and promote economic engagement with Syria, Wilsonemphasized that the Syrian diaspora and religious minorities must be includedin any future government to build international support for liftingrestrictions. He further criticized Israel’s repeated strikes in Syria, arguingthat continued military action undermines long-term stability.
Representative Marlin Stutzman, a member of the HouseFinancial Services Committee who visited Jobar and Saydnaya in April, describedSyria as facing a “historic opportunity” for recovery, urging a transitionbeyond al-Assad era while acknowledging Syrians’ resilience. The debate inCongress, he stressed, now focuses on how, not if, sanctions should be lifted.
The Syrian American advocacy groups, according toHernandez, have shifted from pushing to extend sanctions to campaigning forrepeal, expressing confidence that bipartisan momentum is building ahead of akey House vote next week.
Activists left Capitol Hill optimistic that Thursday’scampaign could mark the beginning of a policy shift toward reconstruction andeconomic recovery in Syria.
For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington, D.C.
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