Syria (General)

Purpose of the Sanctions Regime

This sanctions regime aims to support Syria’s transition to a peaceful, democratic and rights-respecting state. The purposes of the regime are to:

• promote peace, stability and security
• promote respect for democracy, the rule of law and good governance
• discourage actions, policies or activities which repress the civilian population
• promote compliance with international human rights law and the protection of fundamental rights
• provide accountability for gross violations of human rights carried out by or on behalf of the former Assad regime

Overview of sanctions measures

Current financial sanction measures implemented in Jersey in relation to Syria include, but are not limited to:

• asset freezes and restrictions on making funds and economic resources available to and for the benefit of designated persons
• prohibitions on specific Assad-era bond trades, and all services related
• prohibitions relating to trade in certain goods, services and technology
• travel ban
• director disqualification sanctions

Latest News

25 April 2025

• the Minister for External Relations has made the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions – Syria) (Jersey) Amendment Order 2025, which came into force on 25 April 2025

 

• the UK Sanctions List has been updated. All current asset-freezing sanctions designations effective in Jersey are available on the OFSI Consolidated List of financial sanctions targets. Further information can be found on Jersey Gazette

*All published Latest News notices relating to financial sanctions, including those extending beyond the last 30 days, may be obtained from the Jersey Gazette

Jersey Regime

The Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021 (the Jersey Order) implements the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as amended (the UK Regulations).

Article 3 of the Jersey Order imposes the asset-freeze provisions in Part 3 of the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 (the SAFL) on any person listed by or under the UK Regulations. The Part 3 provisions also include, but are not limited to, Articles 15-17 of the SAFL on exceptions, licences, and circumventing prohibitions etc.

Offences

The offences for this regime are set out in both the SAFL and the Jersey Order.

Reporting obligations

Reporting obligations are set out at Article 32 of the SAFL and apply to all regimes in force. These obligations include requirements for a relevant financial institution to inform the Minister if:

• it holds an account of a person, has entered into dealings or an agreement with a person or has been approached by or on behalf of a person, and
• it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that the person:
  • is a designated person, or;
  • has committed, is committing or intends to commit an offence under this Law, and  
• the information or other matter on which the knowledge or reasonable cause for suspicion is based came to it in the course of carrying on its business.

Licences and exceptions

A Jersey General Licence, granted by the Minister, allows multiply parties to conduct specified activities that would otherwise be restricted by sanctions measures. Supervised persons must ensure that their activities are within the scope of the General Licence's terms and that they adhere to all its conditions.

The Minister may also grant a specific licence under the SAFL and/or the Jersey Order.

To apply for a specific sanctions licence a supervised person must complete the relevant Sanctions form and return the completed form to [email protected].

The FSIU provides guidance on sanctions licences and exceptions  on the Government of Jersey website Sanctions.

Legal Acts

Jersey

• Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019
• Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021
• Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions – Syria) (Jersey) Amendment Order 2025

United Kingdom

• The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
• The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) 2020
• The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) 2020
• The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2024
• The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2024
• The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
• The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Further information

Useful information is provided on gov.uk regarding Financial sanctions, Syria; Syria sanctions: guidance