PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON D.C, September 24, 2020 – The Syrian Emergency Task Force is proud to announce that Caesar has been named as one the hundred most influential people in the world this year by TIME. The list, now in its seventeenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.
TIME recognizes Caesar (alias) and his extraordinary courage in smuggling almost fifty five thousand photographs of torture and mass death out of Syria’s political prisons, concrete proof of the war crimes committed by Assad and his brutal regime. After years of effort, and with the help of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Caesar’s photos and testimonies now serve as the basis of the United States “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act” and the ensuing economic and diplomatic sanctions which hold the Assad regime and its allies accountable for their Human Rights abuses.
As TIME honors Caesar, we must also honor the lives of the thousands of murdered individuals immortalized in Caesar’s photos and the many thousands more still suffering heinous torture and imprisonment. Caesar risked his life to share their suffering, now the international community must not let his heroism be in vain. We call on the United States government and the international community to compel Assad to end the torture and release all detainees held in his dungeons.
The full list and related tributes appear in the October 5, 2020 issue of TIME, available on newsstands on Friday, September 25, and now at time.com/time100.mitted by Assad and his brutal regime. After years of effort, and with the help of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Caesar’s photos and testimonies now serve as the basis of the United States “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act” and the ensuing economic and diplomatic sanctions which hold the Assad regime and its allies accountable for their HumanRights abuses.
As TIME honors Caesar, we must also honor the lives of the thousands of murdered individuals immortalized in Caesar’s photos and the many thousands more still suffering heinous torture and imprisonment. Caesar risked his life to share their suffering, now the international community must not let his heroism be in vain. We call on the United States government and the international community to compel Assad to end the torture and release all detainees held in his dungeons.
The full list and related tributes appear in the October 5, 2020 issue of TIME, available on newsstands on Friday, September 25, and now at time.com/time100.
Press Contact:
Celeste Brevard
Director of Communications Syrian Emergency Task Force
[email protected]