SOS Chrétiens d’Orient in Syria: The far-right French NGO supporting Bashar al-Assad

Using open-source analysis and extensive reporting, the 8-month investigation reveals that SOSCO’s Syrian operations have provided support to Christian militias fighting for Assad that have been accused of multiple war crimes. The NGO’s support could make it complicit in these crimes.

The French NGO also works with charities linked to the Syrian regime, sometimes even funding them. One such organisation is led by Asma al-Assad, Bashar’s wife, who is now under U.S. sanctions for her critical role in supporting the regime crackdown against peaceful protests and funding the regime’s security apparatus.

While working on small-scale projects in regime-held areas, SOS Chrétiens d’Orient also runs an extensive PR campaign designed to portray Bashar al-Assad as the defender of Christian minorities, whitewashing and even denying his extensive list of crimes against humanity.

Image © SOSCO Facebook page

The team was assisted by a fourth journalist, who wants to remain anonymous for security reasons. The name of the journalist is known to Journalismfund.

IMPACT

Following this investigation, the National Anti-terrorist Prosecutor's Office (Parquet National Antiterroriste, PNA) opened a preliminary investgation into the association, which is alleged to have links with Syrian militias accused of war crimes. The association was labelled a "national defence partner" of the Ministry of the Armed Forces by a 2017 decree signed by Jean-Yves Le Drian. On 31 January 2022, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced the termination of the partnership with SOS Chrétiens d'Orient.