ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The man whose efforts led to the enactment of the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria is set to testify before the US Congress, unmasked for the first time, to urge the repeal of the act, as Damascus seeks a permanent removal of sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s era, with a temporary suspension in place. 

“The Syrian American Council (SAC) is honored to announce that Farid al-Madhan, known globally by his code name ‘Caesar,’ will testify before the Congress next week,” the council announced in a statement, noting that the testimony will involve talks regarding US sanctions, "including the repeal of the Caesar Act.”

The hearing marks Madhan’s “first unmasked appearance before a congressional panel… until recently, he appeared only in closed or masked sessions under the alias ‘Caesar’ to protect his identity and ensure his safety from retaliation by the Assad regime and its allies,” the statement added.

Madhan, a Syrian military photographer, exposed footage of torture and human rights abuses by the former Assad regime in Damascus prisons during his service, leading to the passage of the “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act” in 2019. He also testified anonymously before Congress under the code name “Caesar.” 

The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, which was suspended temporarily by the US on Monday, was a sanctions system that targeted the Syrian government and those involved in business with Damascus, cutting the country off from the global economy. The law was enacted during the rule of the deposed Baathist regime under Assad.

The suspension of the sanctions followed a landmark meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his US counterpart Donald Trump in the White House. 

US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday also urged for the removal of the sanctions, saying, “The next step in truly ‘giving Syria a chance’ is the full repeal of the Caesar Act.”

In October, the US Senate passed the 2026 defense programs and policy bill that included an article calling for the unconditional repeal of the act. The move was warmly welcomed by top Syrian officials, who have continuously appealed to the West for the removal of Baathist-era sanctions. 

After the Senate approval, the bill will now be presented to Congress and must then be signed by Trump before the end of the year to take effect.