THE APPLICABILITY OF “RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (R2P)” IN THE SYRIAN CRISIS

With the impact of Arab Spring, demonstrations have been organised for the democratic demands of the people against the Assad regime in Syria. However, thousands of civilians have been killed by the use of military troops and ground and air bombardments resulting in approximately 300,000 civilian deaths and more than 4 million refugees and 7 million displaced people. This conflict has also led to the destruction of cities and millions of severe and systematic human rights violations against Syria’s citizens. Consequently, there is a requirement to put humanitarian intervention under a legitimate basis. In this paper, the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention and use of force against the Assad regime are to be questioned. The subject is examined in terms of legitimate applicability of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) whilst excluding the political objectives of states