Date: 2025-05-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1110 of 28 May 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
## Report on Council Decision CFSP 2025/1110 Amending Decision CFSP 2020/1999 Concerning Restrictive Measures Against Serious Human Rights Violations and Abuses
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Council Decision CFSP 2025/1110 of 28 May 2025, which amends Decision CFSP 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses. The core purpose of this amendment is to expand the list of individuals and entities subject to restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. This expansion targets two individuals and three entities implicated in serious human rights abuses, specifically those involved in violence in Syria's coastal region in March 2025. The key finding is that the EU is reinforcing its commitment to addressing human rights violations globally by imposing sanctions on those responsible for abuses.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide an informative overview of Council Decision CFSP 2025/1110, based solely on the text of the decision itself. The report analyzes the amendment's objectives, rationale, key changes, affected stakeholders, inferred implementation aspects, and expected outcomes.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This decision amends Council Decision CFSP 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses.
* The core objective of the amendment, as inferred from the text, is to enhance the effectiveness of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime by expanding the list of sanctioned individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights violations.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment appears to be driven by the need to respond to specific instances of serious human rights violations. The text cites the wave of violence in Syria's coastal region in March 2025, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including arbitrary killings, as the primary justification for the amendment. The amendment is designed to hold accountable those responsible for these specific abuses.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This decision focuses specifically on adding to the existing list of sanctioned individuals and entities. The key changes introduced by the amendment are as follows:
* **Amendment to Annex of Decision CFSP 2020/1999:** The Annex, which lists natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures, is amended.
* **Addition of Individuals:** Two individuals, Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim and Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, are added to the list of sanctioned natural persons.
* Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim is the founder and leader of the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade, implicated in arbitrary killings of civilians in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025.
* Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr is the leader of the Hamza Division, also implicated in violence in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025, including torture and arbitrary killings of civilians.
* **Addition of Entities:** Three entities, Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade, The Hamza Division, and The Sultan Murad Division are added to the list of sanctioned legal persons, entities, and bodies.
* Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade is sanctioned due to the arbitrary killings of civilians in the violence in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025.
* The Hamza Division is sanctioned due to torture, extortion, forced displacement, and the violence in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025, including torture and arbitrary killings of civilians.
* The Sultan Murad Division is sanctioned due to the violence in the coastal region of Syria in March 2025, including inhuman treatment and arbitrary killings of civilians, in addition to targeting Syrias Kurdish community and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
* **Effect of Changes:** The effect of these changes is to subject the listed individuals and entities to restrictive measures as defined in the original Decision CFSP 2020/1999. The specific nature of those restrictions is not detailed in the provided text.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The immediate target audience consists of Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim, Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade, The Hamza Division, and The Sultan Murad Division. More broadly, the policy targets those involved in serious human rights violations and abuses around the world, specifically those in Syria. Stakeholders also include financial institutions, businesses, and other entities that are now prohibited from dealing with the sanctioned individuals and entities. This includes any organization doing business within the EU or with EU citizens.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Council of the European Union, based on the "Done at Brussels, For the Council The President A. SZAPKA" appears to be the responsible body for enacting the decision. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy proposed the decision.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The decision entered into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (28 May 2025). Specific procedures for implementing the sanctions are not detailed in the text but would likely be outlined in related legal acts and implemented by Member States.
* **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** The practical implementation of this amendment would involve updating existing sanction lists and ensuring that relevant authorities are aware of the new designations. Financial institutions would need to screen their customers and transactions to ensure compliance with the expanded sanctions regime.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcome of these specific changes is to:
* Restrict the ability of the listed individuals and entities to operate freely and access resources.
* Send a strong signal that the EU is committed to holding perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable.
* Potentially deter future abuses by demonstrating the consequences of such actions.
**9. Conclusion:**
Council Decision CFSP 2025/1110 represents an important step in the EU's ongoing efforts to promote and protect human rights globally. By expanding the list of sanctioned individuals and entities, the EU is reinforcing its commitment to addressing serious human rights violations and abuses, particularly in the context of the violence in Syria. This amendment has significant implications for the targeted individuals and entities, as well as for businesses and institutions that may be affected by the sanctions. The decision's effectiveness will depend on its robust implementation and enforcement by EU member states.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
L series 2025/110: Reference to a specific series within the Official Journal of the European Union.
28 May 2025: Date of the Council Decision and publication in the Official Journal.
COUNCIL DECISION CFSP 2025/110: Council Decision relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) with a specific identifier.
Decision CFSP 2020/1999: Council Decision concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses, which is being amended.
Treaty on European Union: The foundational treaty for the European Union.
Article 29: Article within the Treaty on European Union that is relevant to the Council Decision.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Official responsible for the EU's foreign policy.
7 December 2020: Date when Decision CFSP 2020/1999 was adopted.
8 December 2020: Date of the declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime
EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: A regime established by the European Union to address serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide.
Member States: The countries that constitute the European Union
March 2025: Month when a wave of violence occurred in Syria's coastal region.
Syria: Country where human rights violations occurred.
11 March 2025: Date when the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union condemning the violence in Syria.
Brussels: Location where the Council Decision was finalized.
A. SZAPKA: The President of the Council at the time the decision was made.
Muhammad Hussein ALJASIM: Individual listed for serious human rights abuses in Syria, founder and leader of the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade.
Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade: Syrian armed militia active in the Syrian civil war, listed for serious human rights abuses.
Syrian civil war: Ongoing conflict in Syria.
AlJawsa, Hama Governorate, Syria: Place of birth of Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim.
Abu AMSHA: Also known as Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim.
Sayf Boulad ABU BAKR: Individual listed for serious human rights abuses in Syria, leader of the Hamza Division.
Hamza Division: Armed militia operating in Syria, listed for serious human rights abuses.
Bzaah, al-Bab District, Syria: Place of birth of Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr.
Afrin: Region in Syria where the Hamza Division committed acts of torture, extortion, and forced displacement.
Aleppo: Region in Syria where the Hamza Division committed acts of torture, extortion, and forced displacement.
The Sultan Murad Division: An armed militia established in 2013 and operating during the Syrian Civil War
Syrian National Army SNA: The Sultan Murad Division is affiliated with the Syrian National Army SNA
President alAssads regime: Before the fall of President alAssads regime, the Sultan Murad Division participated in operations targeting Syrias Kurdish community and the Syrian Democratic Forces
Syrian Democratic Forces: Before the fall of President alAssads regime, the Sultan Murad Division participated in operations targeting Syrias Kurdish community and the Syrian Democratic Forces
Libya: The Sultan Murad Division participated in military operations outside Syria, including in Libya
NagornoKarabakh region: The Sultan Murad Division participated in military operations outside Syria, including in the NagornoKarabakh region
Niger: The Sultan Murad Division participated in military operations outside Syria, including in Niger
Alawite community: Group targeted during the violence in the coastal region of Syria.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1110 28.5.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1110
of 28 May 2025
amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights
violations and abuses
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999(1).
(2) On 8 December 2020, by way of the declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) on behalf of the European Union regarding the EU Global Human Rights
Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and
protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the
Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide.
Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for
human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union
and its common foreign and security policy.
(3) In March 2025, a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal region created a high number of victims, including many
civilians. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union in which the Union
condemned the horrific crimes committed against civilians in the context of that violence, including arbitrary
killings.
(4) In that context, two persons and three entities should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and
bodies set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 28 May 2025.
For the Council
The President
A. SZŁAPKA
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations
and abuses (OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/1999/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1110/oj 1/4ANNEX
The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended as follows:
(1) the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:
Names (Transliteration into
Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing
Latin script)
‘119. Muhammad Hussein ﻢﺳﺎﺠﻟﺍ ﻦﻴﺴﺣ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ Position(s): Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim is the founder and leader of the Sultan 28.5.2025
AL-JASIM Sulaiman Shah Brigade, a Syrian armed militia active in the Syrian civil
ﺔﺸﻤﻋ ﻮﺑﺃ DOB: 1985
war.
a.k.a. Abu AMSHA,
ﻢﺳﺎﺠﻟﺍ ﻦﻴﺴﺣ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ POB: Al-Jawsa, Hama Governorate,
Muhammad Husayn In March 2025, the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade, under Muhammad
Syria
AL-JASIM, Muhammad ﻦﻴﺴﺣ ﻦﺑ ﻢﺳﺎﺠﻟﺍ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ Hussein al-Jasim’s command, took part in the violence in the coastal
AL-JASSIM BIN Nationality: Syrian region of Syria, targeting civilians and especially the Alawite community,
HUSSEIN, ﻢﺳﺎﺠﻟﺍ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ including by committing arbitrary killings of civilians.
Mohamed ALJASEM Gender: male
(Arabic spelling) Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim is therefore responsible for serious human
Associated entities: rights abuses in Syria, including arbitrary killings.
Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade
120. Sayf Boulad ABU BAKR ﺮﻜﺑ ﻮﺑﺃ ﺩﻻﻮﺑ ﻒﻴﺳ Position(s): Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr is the leader of the Hamza Division, an armed 28.5.2025’;
militia created in 2016 and operating in Syria.
a.k.a Sayf BALUD, ﺩﻻﻮﺑ ﻒﻴﺳ DOB: 1987-1988
Saif ABU BAKR, Throughout the Syrian civil war, the Hamza Division, under Sayf Boulad
ﺮﻜﺑ ﻮﺑﺃ ﻒﻴﺳ POB: Bza’ah, al-Bab District, Syria
Seyf Ebu BEKIR, Abu Bakr’s command, has been responsible for numerous acts of torture
Seyf EBUBEKIR (Arabic spelling) Nationality: Syrian in that group’s detention centers, for extortion and for forced
displacement of civilians, especially in the regions of Afrin and Aleppo.
Gender: male
In March 2025, the Hamza Division, under Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr’s
Associated entities: Hamza Division command, took part in the violence in the coastal region of Syria,
targeting civilians and especially the Alawite community, including by
committing torture and arbitrary killings of civilians.
Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr is therefore responsible for serious human rights
abuses in Syria, including torture and arbitrary killings of civilians.
2/4
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1110/oj
EN
OJ
L,
28.5.2025(2) the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:
Names (Transliteration into
Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing
Latin script)
‘34. Sultan Sulaiman Shah ﻩﺎﺷ ﻥﺎﻤﻴﻠﺳ ﻥﺎﻄﻠﺴﻟﺍ ﺔﻗﺮﻓ Associated individual(s): The Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade is an armed militia created in 2016, 28.5.2025
Brigade Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim active in the Syrian civil war. It was founded in 2016 in Jarabulus by
(Arabic spelling)
Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim, also known as Abu Amsha and claims to
a.k.a. Suleiman Shah
have more than 2 000 fighters, mainly Turkmen.
Brigade
In March 2025, the Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade took part in the
violence in the coastal region of Syria, targeting civilians and especially the
Alawite community, including by committing arbitrary killings of
civilians.
Sultan Sulaiman Shah brigade is therefore responsible for serious human
rights abuses in Syria, including arbitrary killings of civilians.
35. The Hamza Division ﺓﺰﻤﺤﻟﺍ ﺔﻗﺮﻓ Associated individual(s): Sayf The Hamza Division is an armed militia created in 2016 and operating in 28.5.2025
Boulad Abu Bakr Syria. Throughout the Syrian civil war, the Hamza Division has been
(Arabic spelling)
responsible for numerous acts of torture in its detention centres, for
extortion and for forced displacement of civilians, especially in the region
of Afrin and Aleppo.
In March 2025, the Hamza Division, under Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr’s
command, took part in the violence in the coastal region of Syria,
targeting civilians and especially the Alawite community, including by
committing arbitrary killings of civilians.
The Hamza division is therefore responsible for serious human rights
abuses in Syria, including torture and arbitrary killings.
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1110/oj
3/4
OJ
L,
28.5.2025
ENNames (Transliteration into
Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing
Latin script)
36. The Sultan Murad ﺩﺍﺮﻣ ﻥﺎﻄﻠﺴﻟﺍ ﺔﻗﺮﻓ The Sultan Murad Division is an armed militia established in 2013 and 28.5.2025’.
Division operating during the Syrian Civil War. The Sultan Murad Division is
(Arabic spelling)
affiliated with the Syrian National Army (SNA) and claims to have
between 5 000 and 10 000 fighters.
Before the fall of President al-Assad’s regime, the Sultan Murad Division
participated in operations targeting Syria’s Kurdish community and the
Syrian Democratic Forces, using torture, arbitrary detentions, enforced
disappearance and the ill-treatment of prisoners. The Sultan Murad
Division also participated in military operations outside Syria, including in
Libya, the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Niger.
In March 2025, the Sultan Murad Division took part in the violence in the
coastal region of Syria, targeting civilians and especially the Alawite
community, including by committing inhuman treatment and arbitrary
killings of civilians.
The Sultan Murad Division is therefore responsible for serious human
rights abuses in Syria, including torture, inhuman treatment and arbitrary
killings of civilians.
4/4
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1110/oj
EN
OJ
L,
28.5.2025