Dr. Qanta A. A. Ahmed

As an American woman of Muslim faith, I call on people of good faith to join this open letter to President Trump:

Dear President Trump,

We respectfully urge immediate intervention to stop ethnic cleansing and civilian displacement unleashed by Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa’s Islamist jihadist troops in Syria.

America is the last hope for Kurdish, Christian and Yazidi minorites at risk. Over 1200 Yazidi families- a total of 5000 people- displaced since the January 6th assault on Aleppo are on the precipice of genocide. The 2 million Kurdish people -including the Syrian Democratic Forces (America’s devoted partners in the war against ISIS) – are again sustaining massacres, abduction of their women and genocidal risk. The tiny Christian community is gravely imperiled, facing eradication.

Kurdish residents in Al-Hasakah are fleeing- as thousands of ISIS fighters roam free. Elsewhere, Kurds, secular Arab, Yazidi and Christian minorities are now sheltering in hospitals and schools, some even in the open in public parks without shelter, desperate to protect their children from ISIS.

Several thousand ISIS hardened fighters have been released from Al Shaddadi Prison by Al Sharaa’s forces. This is in contravention of American policy in the war against ISIS and challenges the Administration’s commitment-to defend minorities from horrific violence and threats.

The Unted States must defend the religious freedom of Syria’s most vulnerable and hold Ahmed Al Sharaa- and NATO Ally Turkey – fully accountable if a new genocide is to be averted. Mr. President, you crushed ISIS in 2017 with the enormous sacrifice of the Kurdish people. Today, these noble peoples turn to you to thwart ISIS once again and avert the decimation of their communities.

Respectfully,

Qanta A. A. Ahmed MD FCCP FAASM

Senior Fellow, Independent Women’s Forum; Life Member, Council on Foreign Relations