The Syrian Future Movement is following with grave concern the attack on the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Damascus on Friday, April 3, 2026, which occurred amidst popular protests in support of our people in Palestine. This attack coincided suspiciously with a protest held the day after a demonstration demanding the release of the leader Issam Buwaydani. The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the inviolability of diplomatic missions is a red line that must not be crossed under any circumstances, and that protecting these missions is a national, moral, and legal responsibility incumbent upon the Syrian state and all its institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement also notes the statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Interior on Sunday, April 5, 2026, which affirmed that peaceful demonstration is a legitimate right guaranteed by law as a form of expressing opinion, provided that it adheres to legal frameworks and remains peaceful.
The statement also noted that the attack on the UAE embassy in Damascus during the protests was a reprehensible and unacceptable act, constituting a clear violation of national laws. We in the Syrian Future Movement commend this official step and applaud the Ministry’s measures to strengthen security around diplomatic missions, increase their protection, and investigate and prosecute those involved in the attack. We emphasize the need to accompany these measures with a clear message demonstrating the state’s ability to maintain security.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates its firm stance calling for respect for diplomacy and the protection of diplomatic missions, a position previously expressed in an article entitled “Diplomats: Role and Importance,” published on our official website on January 17, 2025. In that article, we affirmed that the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations constitutes the fundamental reference for modern diplomatic law and defines the rules of diplomatic immunity and the privileges of diplomatic missions.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that any attack on an accredited embassy in Damascus constitutes a clear violation of Article 22 of this Convention, which stipulates the inviolability of diplomatic premises and obligates the host state to protect them from any intrusion or damage.
The Syrian Future Movement is following the regional and international reactions condemning this attack. Both the State of Qatar (on April 4) and the United Arab Emirates (on April 3) issued strongly worded statements of condemnation. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on the Syrian government to fulfill its obligations to secure the embassy and its staff and to investigate the circumstances of the attack.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its firm and unwavering position rejecting any attack on or attempt to approach embassies and diplomatic missions.
The Syrian Future Movement warns that the recurrence of such violations sends a negative message about the state of chaos and weak control, and undermines the international community’s confidence in the Syrian state’s ability to provide the necessary safe environment for diplomatic missions to operate, especially at this critical juncture that requires building partnerships and attracting international support for reconstruction.
The Syrian Future Movement demands the following:
- Intensify the investigations launched by the Ministry of Interior in an urgent and transparent manner, hold all those involved in the attack on the UAE embassy accountable, guarantee a fair and public trial, and announce the results to national and international public opinion.
- A comprehensive review of security procedures around all diplomatic missions in Damascus and other governorates, and the provision of trained security personnel capable of handling any protest movements without allowing them to spiral out of control.
- Issue clear and firm instructions to all security and military agencies to prevent any approach to or attack on any embassy or diplomatic mission, regardless of the nature of the demands being protested.
- Launch a national awareness campaign on the dangers of attacking diplomatic missions, the importance of respecting international law, and the necessity of distinguishing between the right to peaceful protest and reprehensible acts of sabotage.
- Call upon the international community and human rights organizations to document these incidents and pressure all parties to respect diplomatic immunity and refrain from exploiting these cases for narrow political purposes.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its absolute condemnation of any attack targeting the safety of diplomatic missions or their personnel, and affirms that Syria’s future cannot be built on the ruins of international law or the gains of diplomacy.
Protecting embassies is a national responsibility before it is a legal obligation, and it is the true test of the state’s commitment to upholding its sovereignty and respecting its international obligations.
