The European Commission’s handling of the Syrian crisis has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning its impartiality and commitment to protecting religious minorities.
In a statement on March 8, EU spokesperson Anouar El-Anoun condemned alleged offensives by “pro-Assad elements” but glaringly omitted any mention of jihadist-led violence against Christian, Druze, and Alawite communities.
Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate that over 1,000 civilians—many women and children—have been executed since the recent escalation. Yet, the EU has doubled down on its stance, expressing “strong condemnation” of attacks by former Syrian government loyalists while staying silent on the atrocities committed by Islamist forces now in power.
This selective outrage has fueled suspicions that Brussels is tacitly aligned with Turkish-backed jihadist factions that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Meanwhile, Russia has been actively sheltering refugees at its military base, contrasting with the EU’s apparent inaction.
Back in December 2024, EU Foreign Affairs chief Kaja Kallas called for a “peaceful and inclusive transition,” urging Syria’s new rulers to respect human rights and avoid retaliatory violence. However, that appeal now seems naïve, as reports of religious persecution grow by the day. European officials initially claimed they would “judge the new regime by its actions”—but within weeks, those actions painted a grim picture.
Further fueling controversy, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, has met with European representatives, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Her January visit to Damascus, alongside French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, was meant to foster regional stability, yet many see it as legitimizing a group notorious for its extremist roots. Notably, al-Sharaa refused to even shake their hands—because they were women.
On the ground, violence against religious minorities is escalating. A leaked HTS directive warns members not to record any acts of brutality for fear of exposure on social media, yet nowhere does it call for an end to the killings—only for them to go undocumented.
Amid this turmoil, EU foreign ministers recently voted to suspend sanctions on key sectors of the Syrian economy, including energy, finance, and transportation, in an effort to support economic recovery. However, critics argue that lifting these restrictions risks strengthening the new Islamist regime without ensuring true political inclusivity or basic human rights.
With religious minorities under siege and European leaders hesitant to call out jihadist crimes, the EU’s response to Syria’s crisis is being widely viewed as both hypocritical and deeply flawed.
