French anti-terrorism prosecutors have conducted multiple raids on the offices and residences of SOS Chrétiens d'Orient as part of an investigation into potential complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes in Syria. The operations, which took place between September 23 and 25, targeted the NGO's headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, additional offices in Courbevoie and Paris, as well as companies based in Ille-et-Vilaine and private residences in Essonne.

The investigation, opened in late 2020 by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (Pnat), focuses on whether the French organization may have indirectly funneled funds to Syrian pro-regime militias. Specifically, authorities are examining potential financial support to the National Defense Forces (NDF), armed groups aligned with Bashar al-Assad's government that have been accused by various NGOs and international organizations of committing serious human rights violations.

During the three-day operation, investigators from the Central Office for Combating Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes (OCLCH) seized computers, accounting records, and other organizational materials from the NGO's premises. Charles de Meyer, president of the association founded in 2013, confirmed he had been questioned by investigators in a free hearing, though no custody measures were reported at this stage of the investigation.

The case represents a significant escalation in French judicial scrutiny of organizations operating in conflict zones. SOS Chrétiens d'Orient, known for its ties to the French far-right and Maurrassian inspiration, has maintained its mission focuses on supporting Christian communities in the Middle East. The collected evidence will be analyzed in the coming weeks as prosecutors continue their examination of the NGO's Syrian operations and partnerships.