IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 687 
Calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be tried before the 
International Criminal Court for committing crimes against humanity. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2012 
Mr. ISRAEL (for himself and Mr. COLE) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be tried 
before the International Criminal Court for committing 
crimes against humanity. 
Whereas the United Nations estimates that since the uprising 
in Syria began in January 2011, more than 10,000 peo-
ple consisting mostly of civilians have been killed and 
tens of thousands have been displaced; 
Whereas under the command of President Assad, Syrian gov-
ernment forces and shabiha have been accused of gross 
human rights violations including heavy shelling of civil-
ian areas, widespread pillaging and the burning of homes, 
denial of basic human needs such as food, water, and 
medical care, mass torture and arrests, unlawful deten-
tion, and brutal execution-style killings; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:52 Jun 15, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR687.IH
HR687
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 687 IH 
Whereas President Assad failed to adhere to the Arab League 
peace deal agreed to in November 2011, that called for 
withdrawing Syrian security forces, releasing political 
prisoners, and beginning dialogue with the opposition; 
Whereas President Assad has so far failed to implement the 
six-point peace plan orchestrated by Special Envoy to 
Syria Kofi Annan that went into effect in April 2012, 
which calls for an end to the violence, beginning of polit-
ical dialogue, access for humanitarian agencies to provide 
needed aid, release of detainees, freedom of movement 
throughout the country for journalists, and the right to 
demonstrate peacefully; 
Whereas the United States has implemented a series of sanc-
tions through five Executive Orders pertaining to the sit-
uation in Syria; 
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council has held 
four Special Sessions, issued two reports of the Inde-
pendent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syr-
ian Arab Republic, and adopted five resolutions devoted 
to the situation in Syria; 
Whereas the United Nations Security Council has adopted 
two resolutions authorizing an advance team to monitor 
the ceasefire in Syria and a United Nations Supervision 
Mission in Syria (UNSMIS); 
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has adopted 
two resolutions regarding human rights and the situation 
in Syria; 
Whereas the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate de-
spite such actions by the international community; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:52 Jun 15, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR687.IH
HR687
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 687 IH 
Whereas in May and June 2012, massacres have occurred, 
including the killing of men, women, and children in vil-
lages such as Houla and Qubeir; 
Whereas, on June 7, 2012, referring to the massacres in 
Houla and Qubeir, the United Nations High Commis-
sioner for Human Rights stated that ‘‘These killings are 
indicative of a pattern of widespread or systematic at-
tacks against civilian populations, and may amount to 
crimes 
against 
humanity 
and 
other 
international 
crimes.’’; 
Whereas, on November 23, 2011, the United Nations Inde-
pendent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syr-
ian Arab Republic expressed its concern ‘‘that crimes 
against humanity have been committed in different loca-
tions in the Syrian Arab Republic during the period 
under review.’’; 
Whereas, on February 22, 2011, the United Nations Inde-
pendent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syr-
ian Arab Republic found in its second report that after 
further review, ‘‘a reliable body of evidence exists that, 
consistent with other verified circumstances, provides rea-
sonable grounds to believe that particular individuals, in-
cluding commanding officers and officials at the highest 
levels of Government, bear responsibility for crimes 
against humanity and other gross human rights viola-
tions.’’; 
Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Human 
Rights has called on the United Nations Security Council 
to consider referring the situation of Syria to the Inter-
national Criminal Court; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:52 Jun 15, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR687.IH
HR687
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 687 IH 
Whereas the International Criminal Court is an independent 
body whose mission is to try individuals for crimes within 
its jurisdiction, including crimes against humanity, war 
crimes, and genocide: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) strongly condemns the ongoing violence and 
gross human rights violations carried out by Syrian 
government forces under direction of President 
Bashar al-Assad; 
(2) expresses its support for the people of Syria 
seeking peaceful democratic change; and 
(3) calls on the United Nations Security Coun-
cil, based on evidence that crimes against humanity 
have been perpetrated by Syrian government forces, 
to refer the situation of Syria to the International 
Criminal Court. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:52 Jun 15, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR687.IH
HR687
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS