Saturday, December 31, 2011
Homs (Inshaat), Syria
Each day I shall try to share my favourite protest videos that I come across, hoping that they will bring a smile to your face too.
New Year, New Beginnings
I write this very close to midnight, looking back over the past year, I can't quite believe everything that has happened. It feels like a lifetime ago I was looking up the first protest in Souq al Hamidiyah in Damascus on March 15th yet since then, it has flown by like a blink of an eye.
I wanted to write a post for a while now; a personal one for Syria. These past 9 months have caused me so much pain inside. I've been planning on going to Syria before the protests began, as I was already missing the country but seeing the country in such turmoil has physically taken its toll on me. Seeing so much pain and anguish has affected me beyond anything more I could have expected. The inability to help in any tangible form has only made me feel worse.
Of course what I'm feeling is nothing compared to those living in Syria, who've had family and friends arrested and killed. My heart goes out to them. I've had my cousin hurt, and I can understand the pain and worry that many families encounter for their loved ones.
I don't see how it will improve in the near future. The next weeks, months I imagine, will continue like it has. Protests everyday. Mass arrests. Daily death tolls of 20, give or take. I expect the total death toll would be certainly in the tens of thousands at least, despite the UN stating approximately 5000 - 6000 martyrs.
To all those who've died, in my heart you belong always. You will never be forgotten. Inshallah to the highest heaven.
I wanted to write a post for a while now; a personal one for Syria. These past 9 months have caused me so much pain inside. I've been planning on going to Syria before the protests began, as I was already missing the country but seeing the country in such turmoil has physically taken its toll on me. Seeing so much pain and anguish has affected me beyond anything more I could have expected. The inability to help in any tangible form has only made me feel worse.
Of course what I'm feeling is nothing compared to those living in Syria, who've had family and friends arrested and killed. My heart goes out to them. I've had my cousin hurt, and I can understand the pain and worry that many families encounter for their loved ones.
I don't see how it will improve in the near future. The next weeks, months I imagine, will continue like it has. Protests everyday. Mass arrests. Daily death tolls of 20, give or take. I expect the total death toll would be certainly in the tens of thousands at least, despite the UN stating approximately 5000 - 6000 martyrs.
To all those who've died, in my heart you belong always. You will never be forgotten. Inshallah to the highest heaven.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Razan Ghazzawi Released
Razan Ghazzawi was released tonight. Her sister Nadine tweeted this earlier this evening :-)
#FreeRazan #Syria It's raining Razans… hallelujah :) It's official, sis is out! hopefully the same goes to all arrested sisters and brothers.I am happy for her release, and hope all other political detainees will be released soon.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Razan Ghazzawi Update
Razan Ghazzawi has now been charged with three crimes, according to this article in The Daily Star': “establishing an organization that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state,” “weakening the national sentiment, and trying to ignite sectarian strife," which could lead her with a prison sentence between 3 - 15 years.
We don't forget the blood of our martyrs
I haven't posted any videos on here in a while, so I shall add my favourite ones that I've made a note of.
Ibtaa 10/12/2011:
Homs (Deir Ba'albah) 10/12/2011:
Mare' 04/12/2011:
Ma'arrat Numan 04/12/2011:
Sanamayn 03/12/2011:
Athman 03/12/2011:
Kherbet Ghazali 03/12/2011:
Homs (Deir Ba'albah) 05/12/2011:
Sanamayn 12/12/2011:
Nahtah 10/12/2011:
Mare' 04/12/2011:
Friday, December 09, 2011
Yaman Al Qadri Released
Yaman al-Qadri has been released on 30th November 2011. I wanted to make a quick note on the blog, as I have of yet mentioned she has been released. If there is any more information, I will indeed post.
I'm glad of her safe return. I hope the thousands of others follow suit and return home to their families.
May God protect them all.
I'm glad of her safe return. I hope the thousands of others follow suit and return home to their families.
May God protect them all.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Razan Ghazzawi
I start my first post of the month on Razan Ghazzawi, a 30 year old woman, who is well known for speaking out on Palestine, LGBT issues and of course on Syria via her blog and twitter account. She was born in the United States, though has never lived there but in Jeddah and in Syria.
Razan Ghazzawi was recently detained by security forces in Syria near the Jordanian border (on the 4th December 2011). Close friends/family say that she was on her way to a workshop in Jordan organised by her employer, the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, when she was arrested. One friend told Reuters, “She was arrested as she presented her passport to immigration at the Syrian border post of Nassib to cross to Jordan.” Her sister, Nadine Ghazzawi, recently joined Twitter, where she posts updates on Razan's arrest and subsequent detainment.Raising awareness of Razan's case across the world, will highlight the abuses that Syrians face in Syria for writing the truth, highlighting abuses and asking for a better future. Razan Ghazzawi is amongst thousands detained across the whole of Syria. Please spend a moment dedicating a tweet or Facebook message or even mention to your friends.
I shall leave you with a quote from Razan Ghazzawi herself:
"The Syrian regime does not fear those imprisoned but those who do not forget them."
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Anti-imperialism
I was 15 when Britain and USA invaded Iraq in 2003. That was the first time I experienced anger at western governments for imposing their power onto other counties. One million people protested in London to voice their anger at such an invasion yet despite the numbers that protested, Tony Blair continued with invading Iraq and occupying the country for years. I was sceptical that weapons of mass destruction existed at the time yet I was naive to western interests in the region.
I've not read much about life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein though I often heard how much of a brutal dictator he was, that there are many who are glad to see him go though not under the circumstances surrounding his departure. I often wonder now whether Iraq would be experiencing an uprising this year, like that of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen if it weren't invaded. If Iraq hadn't been invaded, would more people be protesting in the streets of Syria?
These past few years, I learnt more and more about western colonialism and imperialism. I never fully realised the impact that western countries had on the world. Western countries never had pure intentions but rather they saw the world through hungry eyes.
There was always competition between leading countries (Britain being of course one of them) to be the 'leading superpower', always striving to be bigger and stronger. It doesn't matter which country was stepped on, was trodden on and robbed, along the way, as long as you belong to a leading superpower, all is well. I first noticed (like many do) whilst studying WW1 and 2 during history class. The British at least, were very patriotic and during the world wars there was a lot of British nationalism going around (maybe its purely a result of the the British propaganda); a lot stronger than it is nowadays I feel. There was always a sense of "We are big and mighty in this world" in classes which appears to have produced a fairly small set of ignorant and racist people within society, along the likes of the EDL (English Defence League).
The Balfour Declaration is often overlooked during history lessons even though it was formed around WW1 - a period of time in history which was studied for weeks. Not once was it ever mentioned, despite its effects it caused on the world. The Balfour Declaration was a letter sent from the British Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour to Walter Rothschild in 1917 allowing Palestine to become a national home for the Jewish people. Bear in mind that this took place prior to WW2 before the massacre of Jews in Europe. The letter stated:
I've mentioned the Iraq war, though I would also need to mention the war on Afghanistan, which would further highlight my point. The USA (under Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan administrations) funded armed mujahideen in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union during the 1990s only for it to backfire against them in the form of the 9/11 bombings and the Taliban in present day Afghanistan . What lead the Al-Qaeda attacks against western countries (USA, London, Spain, Turkey...) was a form of protest against western desire for imperialism and colonialism. In Al-Qaeda's eyes, Saudi Arabia was occupied by America and were also annoyed by the occupation of Palestine. Remove your presence from every Muslim country and stop interfering in Middle Eastern countries' affairs was and still is Al-Qaeda's demand. Many people see the west's meddling in foreign affairs as the root of all Middle Eastern problems.
More recently I came to learn of how USA overthrew Mossadeq, the Prime Minister of Iran between 1951 and 1953. Mossadeq was democratically elected into power by the Iranian people though in August 1953 at the request of British M16, he was removed from power by a coup. Britain had grown increasingly distressed over Mossadeq's policies and were particularly annoyed over the loss of control of the Iranian oil industry, which resulted in asking America for assistance. Despite initially not complying to British interests, eventually America took up the issue for fears that Mossadeq was, or would become, dependent on the pro-Soviet Tudeh Party at a time of expanding Soviet influence. As a result, the United States and Britain began to publicly denounce Mossadeq's policies for Iran as harmful to the country. Of course Mossadeq was aware of Britain's issues; he declared Britain as an enemy in October 1952 and subsequently cut all diplomatic ties. Though it appears that it was at this point that British intelligence officials suggested to American intelligence that the prime minister should be ousted. He was succeeded by Fazlollah Zahedi. Mossadeq was imprisoned for three years and subsequently was placed under house arrest until his death.
I've not read much about life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein though I often heard how much of a brutal dictator he was, that there are many who are glad to see him go though not under the circumstances surrounding his departure. I often wonder now whether Iraq would be experiencing an uprising this year, like that of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen if it weren't invaded. If Iraq hadn't been invaded, would more people be protesting in the streets of Syria?
These past few years, I learnt more and more about western colonialism and imperialism. I never fully realised the impact that western countries had on the world. Western countries never had pure intentions but rather they saw the world through hungry eyes.
There was always competition between leading countries (Britain being of course one of them) to be the 'leading superpower', always striving to be bigger and stronger. It doesn't matter which country was stepped on, was trodden on and robbed, along the way, as long as you belong to a leading superpower, all is well. I first noticed (like many do) whilst studying WW1 and 2 during history class. The British at least, were very patriotic and during the world wars there was a lot of British nationalism going around (maybe its purely a result of the the British propaganda); a lot stronger than it is nowadays I feel. There was always a sense of "We are big and mighty in this world" in classes which appears to have produced a fairly small set of ignorant and racist people within society, along the likes of the EDL (English Defence League).
The Balfour Declaration is often overlooked during history lessons even though it was formed around WW1 - a period of time in history which was studied for weeks. Not once was it ever mentioned, despite its effects it caused on the world. The Balfour Declaration was a letter sent from the British Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour to Walter Rothschild in 1917 allowing Palestine to become a national home for the Jewish people. Bear in mind that this took place prior to WW2 before the massacre of Jews in Europe. The letter stated:
"His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palesine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."The British government at the time hoped that the declaration would rally Jewish opinion to the side of the Allied powers against the central powers during WW1 as well as hope that the settlement in Palestine with a pro-British Jewish population would help protect British interests in ensuring a vital communication in Egypt along the Suez Canal along to India (a colony of Britain at the time). The Balfour Declaration was endorsed and approved by the League of Nations in 1922. In 1939 the British altered its policy in a White Paper stating a limit to immigration numbers; a policy that was very much condemned by Zionists as to them it appeared that the British favoured Arabs. The White Paper recommended that only a further 75,000 would be allowed to immigrate by 1944 after which no further immigration would be allowed unless the Palestinian Arabs consented. Due to the consequent events of WW2, this was overlooked and the state of Israel was formed in 1948. Immigration to Israel is continuing, where there are many illegal settlements taking place. Israel constantly violates international laws yet without any repercussions to their actions. I will at some point dedicate a post to Israel and Palestine in the future, since it's a central issue to all Arabs across the area, though I won't in the foreseeable future as I want to concentrate my time presently on events in Syria.
I've mentioned the Iraq war, though I would also need to mention the war on Afghanistan, which would further highlight my point. The USA (under Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan administrations) funded armed mujahideen in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union during the 1990s only for it to backfire against them in the form of the 9/11 bombings and the Taliban in present day Afghanistan . What lead the Al-Qaeda attacks against western countries (USA, London, Spain, Turkey...) was a form of protest against western desire for imperialism and colonialism. In Al-Qaeda's eyes, Saudi Arabia was occupied by America and were also annoyed by the occupation of Palestine. Remove your presence from every Muslim country and stop interfering in Middle Eastern countries' affairs was and still is Al-Qaeda's demand. Many people see the west's meddling in foreign affairs as the root of all Middle Eastern problems.
More recently I came to learn of how USA overthrew Mossadeq, the Prime Minister of Iran between 1951 and 1953. Mossadeq was democratically elected into power by the Iranian people though in August 1953 at the request of British M16, he was removed from power by a coup. Britain had grown increasingly distressed over Mossadeq's policies and were particularly annoyed over the loss of control of the Iranian oil industry, which resulted in asking America for assistance. Despite initially not complying to British interests, eventually America took up the issue for fears that Mossadeq was, or would become, dependent on the pro-Soviet Tudeh Party at a time of expanding Soviet influence. As a result, the United States and Britain began to publicly denounce Mossadeq's policies for Iran as harmful to the country. Of course Mossadeq was aware of Britain's issues; he declared Britain as an enemy in October 1952 and subsequently cut all diplomatic ties. Though it appears that it was at this point that British intelligence officials suggested to American intelligence that the prime minister should be ousted. He was succeeded by Fazlollah Zahedi. Mossadeq was imprisoned for three years and subsequently was placed under house arrest until his death.
It's evident from looking through recent history how much power western countries have over the rest of the world. I hope by mentioning the above examples highlights that of course there will be a considerable amount of effort by western countries to meddle in other countries including Syria.
Syria is in a pivotal area of the region. It shares a border with Isreal, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. It's allied to Hamas, Hizbollah as well as Iran, which pretty much makes Syria despised by U.S and Israel. It's one of the few countries in the area which isn't a U.S. puppet. The release of U.S. cables over the last year reveals that under the Bush administration (up until 2010) funded opposition groups in Syria, hoping that it could bring about change in the country to produce a more compliant Syria.
The main point I wanted to highlight is that despite international interferences in Syria, the current events in Syria are more as a consequence of the Syrian people. Bashar al-Assad whilst in his reign felt that by the only thing that mattered to his supporters was the anti-western stance. Of course Syrians despise the American government and all other western governments though if he really cared about the country and the Syrian people, reforms would have come about on their own from national dialogue that should have already been implemented, not as a result of protests to stop further protests only so he could stay in power. If he didn't genuinely believe that there were true protests, why did he offer concessions to appease those protesters, such as the end of emergency laws, the citizenship of Kurds and amnesties releasing some political detainees? Nobody would offer concessions to criminals, so he was aware that there are genuine protests. If he really does care about the people, why is he trying hard to suppress protests that didn't initially call for him to leave but to reform?
Bashar al-Assad is playing on the conspiracy in order to keep his supporters, because that is the only credible factor he has to keep them supporting him. The possibility of a large scale conspiracy against Syria is small. Let me put it this way. If this is a conspiracy, then wouldn't it have occurred sooner? The American government has been funding some opposition groups for 6 years though what has it achieved? Ask Syrians if they've heard of Bayada TV (the TV channel that opened by an opposition group in Syria, that was funded by the US) and you will get an overwhelming 'no' response. So much for money well spent. The regime does vary who it wants to blame for the conspiracy, ranging from Israel to Saudi to Salafis. I yet to see any evidence behind these claims. For a country so infamous for its intelligence services, you would expect mountains of information in regards to these so-called terrorists and then be able to catch them.
This topic would naturally lead to the issue of foreign intervention in Syria, which is on every Syrian's mind. You're either for or against it. There are increasing calls within Syria for foreign intervention, more along the line of a military intervention or a No-Fly Zone. Only a couple of days ago was there an article suggesting that a military intervention could be in Syria within weeks. If I did support foreign military intervention, I would say now is not the time for it. Though at the moment, I do not support one. I do not support western countries. at whatever time, to come in to rid Assad since I blame western governments for all the bad in the region. I would want us Syrians and us Arabs to fix our own problems, because otherwise more problems would stem out if the western world intervened. At the end of the day, it's not my call, but it's up to those protesting on the streets all over the country, who are being shot at, who are being tortured, who are experiencing the death of loved ones. It's not one person's decision but a collective decision by all those taking part. I feel that eventually, violence is needed to overcome the violence we see. I don't feel that peaceful protests are enough to overthrow the regime, however opposed I am to the use of violence.
Colonialism, imperialism and capitalism are indeed problems in this world and has affected the Middle East as a whole for many years. However, the actual events of Syria in these past 8 months are not to due to conspiracies but because of Syrians wishes for a free future without Assad and his gang. Human rights abuses are undoubtedly occurring in Syria against the people by the regime, with mounting evidence to support it; no one can refute that.
Syria is in a pivotal area of the region. It shares a border with Isreal, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. It's allied to Hamas, Hizbollah as well as Iran, which pretty much makes Syria despised by U.S and Israel. It's one of the few countries in the area which isn't a U.S. puppet. The release of U.S. cables over the last year reveals that under the Bush administration (up until 2010) funded opposition groups in Syria, hoping that it could bring about change in the country to produce a more compliant Syria.
The main point I wanted to highlight is that despite international interferences in Syria, the current events in Syria are more as a consequence of the Syrian people. Bashar al-Assad whilst in his reign felt that by the only thing that mattered to his supporters was the anti-western stance. Of course Syrians despise the American government and all other western governments though if he really cared about the country and the Syrian people, reforms would have come about on their own from national dialogue that should have already been implemented, not as a result of protests to stop further protests only so he could stay in power. If he didn't genuinely believe that there were true protests, why did he offer concessions to appease those protesters, such as the end of emergency laws, the citizenship of Kurds and amnesties releasing some political detainees? Nobody would offer concessions to criminals, so he was aware that there are genuine protests. If he really does care about the people, why is he trying hard to suppress protests that didn't initially call for him to leave but to reform?
Bashar al-Assad is playing on the conspiracy in order to keep his supporters, because that is the only credible factor he has to keep them supporting him. The possibility of a large scale conspiracy against Syria is small. Let me put it this way. If this is a conspiracy, then wouldn't it have occurred sooner? The American government has been funding some opposition groups for 6 years though what has it achieved? Ask Syrians if they've heard of Bayada TV (the TV channel that opened by an opposition group in Syria, that was funded by the US) and you will get an overwhelming 'no' response. So much for money well spent. The regime does vary who it wants to blame for the conspiracy, ranging from Israel to Saudi to Salafis. I yet to see any evidence behind these claims. For a country so infamous for its intelligence services, you would expect mountains of information in regards to these so-called terrorists and then be able to catch them.
This topic would naturally lead to the issue of foreign intervention in Syria, which is on every Syrian's mind. You're either for or against it. There are increasing calls within Syria for foreign intervention, more along the line of a military intervention or a No-Fly Zone. Only a couple of days ago was there an article suggesting that a military intervention could be in Syria within weeks. If I did support foreign military intervention, I would say now is not the time for it. Though at the moment, I do not support one. I do not support western countries. at whatever time, to come in to rid Assad since I blame western governments for all the bad in the region. I would want us Syrians and us Arabs to fix our own problems, because otherwise more problems would stem out if the western world intervened. At the end of the day, it's not my call, but it's up to those protesting on the streets all over the country, who are being shot at, who are being tortured, who are experiencing the death of loved ones. It's not one person's decision but a collective decision by all those taking part. I feel that eventually, violence is needed to overcome the violence we see. I don't feel that peaceful protests are enough to overthrow the regime, however opposed I am to the use of violence.
Colonialism, imperialism and capitalism are indeed problems in this world and has affected the Middle East as a whole for many years. However, the actual events of Syria in these past 8 months are not to due to conspiracies but because of Syrians wishes for a free future without Assad and his gang. Human rights abuses are undoubtedly occurring in Syria against the people by the regime, with mounting evidence to support it; no one can refute that.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Change for the better
Recently, I've come across a lot of negative comments in regards to the Syrian uprising in relation to the current events and about the opposition so the commenter(s) consequently support the Syrian regime.
The Syrian regime are thugs using barbaric treatments and methods to suppress the country into submission. The Syrian opposition is far from perfect, but in a society where opposition has been outlawed for decades forcing all 'underground' and into exile, how can they expect a great opposition? I wish we had a more organised opposition; we have the SNC and the NNC, we have the Syrian Free Army...how can we have a right answer on how to plan our path to freedom? There will always be different opinions, which should be allowed and there will always be different options but to side with a regime because they don't like a particular opposition is wrong. It's not the case of choosing between one or the other but instead we should be saying no to human rights abuse and that's it!
Another thing lately, is that we're hearing of sectarian violence, that there are certain people who are promoting sectarian violence (killings/rape etc.) against Alawies. I'm not sure how true these reports are, whether these stories are generated by the government to gain support but nonetheless these acts are wrong and shouldn't undermine the efforts of Syrian activists trying to promote freedom and peace. These acts are of course not accepted by anyone at all and are wrong, and we should all condone all acts completely. Such people should be punished, without question. But again why should we accept a brutal regime because of a few (if they exist) that cause trouble? It's not like the regime has caught these people and punished them to actually gain any support.
As a society and a community, we should seek to remove the regime. That's a starting point for our future Syria. They're not the only problems in our society but they do symbolise corruption, a lack of respect towards its people and are a disease to our country. With a true leadership which should hopefully evolve over the next few years, we should strive to improve our community and ultimately our society. We can not improve a country if we can not improve ourselves (but that doesn't mean we accept Bashar and his thugs for the time being; we deserve better). It will be hard but its necessary whilst we improve our country but with a good leadership that will happen and we will obtain leaders over the next years that we will be proud of. We will not get perfect leaders straight away but the aim of this uprising is to rid the country of a brutal dictatorship and allow ourselves a new beginning where we can build up our country from scratch. To build a new constitution and new laws and generate great leaders.
No one is asking to accept the SNC as the next government of Syria for the next 40 years. No-one should stay that long at all. But we should be allowed an opportunity to try to improve the country and to move forwards. Without opportunities how do we improve? We should all stay united and contribute our efforts in order to bring about change for the better.
We are not born knowing everything...we learn to stand before we walk and we learn to walk before we run. Our first step is to remove the Ba'ath party and the steps after that include altering constitutions and laws as well as working on our 'opposition' further. We will get there in baby steps but don't side with a regime because you want it all happen at once; it won't. Bashar al Assad will not give the country its reforms; he speaks of empty promises. Parliament isn't to be inherited within the family and until that is fixed, how can we eliminate corruption from the country?
Doesn't it seem that these people who complain are only people of talk? They never seem to actively engage or help with the uprising in a positive manner, which is a shame.
The Syrian regime are thugs using barbaric treatments and methods to suppress the country into submission. The Syrian opposition is far from perfect, but in a society where opposition has been outlawed for decades forcing all 'underground' and into exile, how can they expect a great opposition? I wish we had a more organised opposition; we have the SNC and the NNC, we have the Syrian Free Army...how can we have a right answer on how to plan our path to freedom? There will always be different opinions, which should be allowed and there will always be different options but to side with a regime because they don't like a particular opposition is wrong. It's not the case of choosing between one or the other but instead we should be saying no to human rights abuse and that's it!
Another thing lately, is that we're hearing of sectarian violence, that there are certain people who are promoting sectarian violence (killings/rape etc.) against Alawies. I'm not sure how true these reports are, whether these stories are generated by the government to gain support but nonetheless these acts are wrong and shouldn't undermine the efforts of Syrian activists trying to promote freedom and peace. These acts are of course not accepted by anyone at all and are wrong, and we should all condone all acts completely. Such people should be punished, without question. But again why should we accept a brutal regime because of a few (if they exist) that cause trouble? It's not like the regime has caught these people and punished them to actually gain any support.
As a society and a community, we should seek to remove the regime. That's a starting point for our future Syria. They're not the only problems in our society but they do symbolise corruption, a lack of respect towards its people and are a disease to our country. With a true leadership which should hopefully evolve over the next few years, we should strive to improve our community and ultimately our society. We can not improve a country if we can not improve ourselves (but that doesn't mean we accept Bashar and his thugs for the time being; we deserve better). It will be hard but its necessary whilst we improve our country but with a good leadership that will happen and we will obtain leaders over the next years that we will be proud of. We will not get perfect leaders straight away but the aim of this uprising is to rid the country of a brutal dictatorship and allow ourselves a new beginning where we can build up our country from scratch. To build a new constitution and new laws and generate great leaders.
No one is asking to accept the SNC as the next government of Syria for the next 40 years. No-one should stay that long at all. But we should be allowed an opportunity to try to improve the country and to move forwards. Without opportunities how do we improve? We should all stay united and contribute our efforts in order to bring about change for the better.
We are not born knowing everything...we learn to stand before we walk and we learn to walk before we run. Our first step is to remove the Ba'ath party and the steps after that include altering constitutions and laws as well as working on our 'opposition' further. We will get there in baby steps but don't side with a regime because you want it all happen at once; it won't. Bashar al Assad will not give the country its reforms; he speaks of empty promises. Parliament isn't to be inherited within the family and until that is fixed, how can we eliminate corruption from the country?
Doesn't it seem that these people who complain are only people of talk? They never seem to actively engage or help with the uprising in a positive manner, which is a shame.
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Since when did silence serve us?
Thousands have disappeared in Syria under the Ba'ath party, in it's 42 year rule, especially since March 15th (though don't be disillusioned to think that many weren't detained prior to the uprising). Among the thousands are men and women, young and old, of various professions, including students. Why? To oppress people into silence; to not question authority or to raise their voice against a brutal regime.
I hope to make a blog post for those who have died, for those who have disappeared and also for those who have been detained, to honour their courage and bravery and also the sacrifices and risks they've taken for a better future for us all. I will never be able to do justice to any of them nor will I be able to cover the vast numbers who have been killed or detained though I do hope you'll bear with me whilst I'll try to cover as many as I can. As I've mentioned, thousands have been detained by the Syrian regime and many more whose whereabouts are unknown. I hope that by sharing individual stories, not only will we be able to honour each and every individual who's sacrificed so much for us, I hope that it will also vocalise a silent majority, who are still too scared to speak up their views; since when did silence serve us?
Yesterday, I wrote about Yaman Al Qadri, an 18 year old dermatology student at Damascus University, who was brutally assaulted and consequently arrested. I hope to continue to highlight the many people who've been detained, tortured and killed.
Hussein Ghrer, a prominent Syrian blogger, disappeared after leaving his home on 24/10/2011. Circumstances of his arrest, condition and whereabouts are unknown, according to the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. Days prior to his disappearance, he wrote on his blog:
Yesterday, I wrote about Yaman Al Qadri, an 18 year old dermatology student at Damascus University, who was brutally assaulted and consequently arrested. I hope to continue to highlight the many people who've been detained, tortured and killed.
___________________________
Hussein Ghrer, a prominent Syrian blogger, disappeared after leaving his home on 24/10/2011. Circumstances of his arrest, condition and whereabouts are unknown, according to the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. Days prior to his disappearance, he wrote on his blog: "Silence doesn’t serve us after today. We don’t want a country where we get imprisoned for uttering a word. We want a country that embraces and welcomes words."
He also writes: “As bloggers, we have nothing but our writing to express a very little part of what hurts us so much. Our hearts ache in front of this monster that´s called corruption, protected by the force of security law, which is above any other law in this country.”
His blog focuses on news about detained bloggers in Syria (his last post being on he arrest of Syrian blogger Anas Maarawi, who has since been released), the ongoing revolution, and Israel's occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, as well as other topics.
Among his last words on his blog were “Note to intelligence and security forces: If you don’t like what I’m saying and you want to arrest me, send me a message and I’ll give you my full address so we can finish this according to your way.”
Activists have put together a Facebook campaign calling for his release as well as calling for Syrian authorities to disclose information about Hussein Ghrer and release those detained in violation of the law and human rights. Follow the hashtag #FreeHussein on Twitter to follow more recent updates on his disappearance.
Activists have put together a Facebook campaign calling for his release as well as calling for Syrian authorities to disclose information about Hussein Ghrer and release those detained in violation of the law and human rights. Follow the hashtag #FreeHussein on Twitter to follow more recent updates on his disappearance.
___________________________
Friday, November 04, 2011
Yaman Al Qadri
On 3rd November 2011, 10 men from the Syrian security forces brutally assaulted an 18-year old girl in front of her classmates at the University of Damascus where she studies dermatology. Her name is Yaman Al Qadri. After being brutally assaulted, she was forcibly taken along with a classmate to an unknown location. Her classmate was released an hour after the arrest but Yaman is still being held incommunicado.Yaman faces grave danger and is at risk of torture, as the regime has systematically attacked health workers and professionals who are speaking up against repression and helping the injured.
A Facebook page has been set up, providing regular updates and information. Syrians unanimously demand her immediate and unconditional release as well as ask all concerned people to take immediate and urgent action in support of Yaman. You can send a letter to your local Syrian Embassy; a sample letter has been written (see below):
I am writing to urgently demand the IMMEDIATE and UNCONDITIONAL release of 18-year-old medical school student Yaman Al Qadri from arbitrary detention in Syria’s security system.
Yaman al Qadri was brutally beaten by regime security forces at Damascus University and abducted, in violation of all relevant national and international laws, specifically those pertaining to children. She is arbitrarily detained. Arbitrary detention is illegal according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 7. Syria signed this Covenant on 21 April, 1969.
In addition, torture is illegal in Syria, both under international law as well as according to Article 28 (3) of the Syrian Constitution. The Penal Code of Syria stipulates punishment for anyone inflicting torture on a person. Syria’s security system is thus fully responsible for the safety, health and physical and psychological well-being of Yaman al Qadri. I am particularly concerned that she receive the necessary care for any and all injuries she sustained during the brutal attack on her by security forces.
I hold the Syrian government exclusively responsible for the safe return of Yaman al Qadri, and for all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners currently held in Syria’s detention and prison system. All such detainees should be released immediately and without condition.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Women in the frontline, women in the rear: the revolution in Syria
The following article by Vanessa Ortiz was published in 'Waging Non violence' on 31st October 2011. I thought it was a good article in that it showed that women are every much involved in the Syrian Uprising.
Bits and pieces of information about the growing uprising in Syria are coming our way through mainstream media sources like Al Jazeera. But dig down deep, and you’ll find a revolution with women forging the way, and with a news gap that’s being filled by Syrian expatriate females.
Let’s begin with a little known fact: The youngest known convicted prisoner of conscience in the world is a Syrian citizen. Her name is Tal al-Mallouhi, a young blogger who has been in prison since 2009, when she was 17 years old. Tal’s poetry and political interests and activism chaffed with the authorities. After being held in jail for more than two years, in February 2011, Mallouhi was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of spying for the U.S. The case of Tal became part of Syrian consciousness, particularly among women. The idea that young people were increasingly disappearing, often later found tortured or killed, sounded an alarm in villages across Syria.
During a recent conversation with Rafif, a female Syrian expatriate activist living in Northern Virginia, I learned some of the deep grievances that were at the core of decades of citizen activism in Syria. “There is a kind of gang mentality in Syria that goes beyond politics. You either support the government-supported mafias, or you are excluded from ‘inner circles’ that allow you some economic leverage. All major industries, like tourism, mobile communications, and petroleum industries are regime-controlled. In any business, you have to strike a deal with the regime in order to operate without too much government interference,” she explains. “It is a culture of bakhsheesh, meaning tip or bribe. Those who cannot afford to pay off every level of government or businesses are excluded, and therefore don’t benefit economically.”
The case of Mohamed Bouazizi, a young fruit vendor in Tunisia who set himself afire outside a local municipal office and sparked Tunisia’s revolution, resonated for average Syrians who too had been suffering such indignities all their lives. It is a system of total psychological, social and economic repression. For the average Syrian, it is total humiliation—long waits for basic services, bribes each step of the way, and a long chain of corruption. Syrian activism for decades had been around ending this system of corruption, and this unifying theme was slowly shifting.
I am told that Syrians watched the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt in awe. Early this year, a few young students aged 8 to 15 years old were emboldened by the unfolding events in the region and wrote graffiti in their school in Dar’a, a poor area south of Damascus. The youngsters were arrested for scrawling the word “freedom” on the school wall. They were beaten and dropped off to their families. As Rafif describes it, “The city went crazy.” Many demonstrations and marches followed as people publicly expressed their outrage at the regime’s tactic to suppress a revolution: the torture of children.
Several weeks later, Hamza al-Khatib, a 13-year-old boy, again from a village in Dar’a, became the symbol of the Syria’s blossoming revolution. He was tortured to death for participating in a demonstration. Dar’a citizens staged massive demonstrations. For so many years, people had been mobilizing around reforming the system, but suddenly the focus shifted to the overthrow of the regime, as was happening in Tunisia and Egypt.
The women of Syria, both young and old, have been courageously leading many protest activities throughout the country. For them, it is personal, and they are deeply invested in the idea of change. In, April in the city of Bayda, nearly every adult male was imprisoned in an attack on the town to repress government opposition. More marches and protests followed.
Women have also been active in funeral processions, traditionally the domain of men. (Women normally mourn at home.) When women began coming out in large numbers, they too became victims of the regime’s violence. And they adapted. Syrian women traditionally do not cover their faces in public, but they are doing so during protests to protect their identities, as are many men. A clever adaptation to the face veil can be seen here, as women use the Syrian flag as a face cover, doubling as protection and a message to a regime that accuses them of being part of a foreign-led regime change plot.
Women, both expats and in the country, are extremely active. Still, protestors on the streets are mostly men. And the aspiring transitional government, the Syrian National Council, are mostly men. Between the protestors and the aspiring government, there is the wide middle wherein lies a huge network of people, many of whom are women. That network is helping document disappearances, deaths, forced detentions and torture. And they are communicating the news to the outside world through technology tools like social media and video posts on YouTube. Women are recording their actions on the ground and sharing that information with Syrian expatriates in London, Paris, Northern Virginia, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, New York and New Jersey.
“I didn’t realize how Syrian I was until this uprising began. I am a U.S. citizen by birth and have spent only a few years in Syria, as a child and later as an adult. I was disappointed,” my friend reflects, often with tears welling. “Now I realize that what I hated about my country: it was the system.” Another Syrian expat woman, Mohja Kahf, writes regularly and provides analysis, video and photos of the ongoing revolution—particularly women in resistance. Their work is full of risks. Many Syrians expats who are active in the movement understand that they are being watched by Syrian intelligence agents. Rafif and other Syrian women from around the world translate news and spread it through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They spread awareness globally and also offer information to the insiders on effective civil disobedience.
Rafif explains her motivation to take part in the uprising: “I get to do this while Syrians inside the country are getting shot at. Seven and eight year old children who even speak of freedom are considered enemies of the state. When they take to the streets, it’s like a suicide mission. But they’d rather die than be silent. I look at how these children are being harmed, and I think, ‘that child could be my son or daughter.’ As a mother, a woman, and a human being, how could I not get involved?”
She recognizes that some may see them as supporting the revolution from “9 to 5.” Rafif acknowledges that she gets to go home each night in relative safety. But she is confident that many Syrians on the inside are appreciative of the support from their fellow Syrians on the outside. “We are helping broadcast the revolution and building global awareness,” Rafif explains between tears and determination, gripping her laptop full of first-hand accounts and resources.
Let’s begin with a little known fact: The youngest known convicted prisoner of conscience in the world is a Syrian citizen. Her name is Tal al-Mallouhi, a young blogger who has been in prison since 2009, when she was 17 years old. Tal’s poetry and political interests and activism chaffed with the authorities. After being held in jail for more than two years, in February 2011, Mallouhi was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of spying for the U.S. The case of Tal became part of Syrian consciousness, particularly among women. The idea that young people were increasingly disappearing, often later found tortured or killed, sounded an alarm in villages across Syria.
During a recent conversation with Rafif, a female Syrian expatriate activist living in Northern Virginia, I learned some of the deep grievances that were at the core of decades of citizen activism in Syria. “There is a kind of gang mentality in Syria that goes beyond politics. You either support the government-supported mafias, or you are excluded from ‘inner circles’ that allow you some economic leverage. All major industries, like tourism, mobile communications, and petroleum industries are regime-controlled. In any business, you have to strike a deal with the regime in order to operate without too much government interference,” she explains. “It is a culture of bakhsheesh, meaning tip or bribe. Those who cannot afford to pay off every level of government or businesses are excluded, and therefore don’t benefit economically.”
The case of Mohamed Bouazizi, a young fruit vendor in Tunisia who set himself afire outside a local municipal office and sparked Tunisia’s revolution, resonated for average Syrians who too had been suffering such indignities all their lives. It is a system of total psychological, social and economic repression. For the average Syrian, it is total humiliation—long waits for basic services, bribes each step of the way, and a long chain of corruption. Syrian activism for decades had been around ending this system of corruption, and this unifying theme was slowly shifting.
I am told that Syrians watched the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt in awe. Early this year, a few young students aged 8 to 15 years old were emboldened by the unfolding events in the region and wrote graffiti in their school in Dar’a, a poor area south of Damascus. The youngsters were arrested for scrawling the word “freedom” on the school wall. They were beaten and dropped off to their families. As Rafif describes it, “The city went crazy.” Many demonstrations and marches followed as people publicly expressed their outrage at the regime’s tactic to suppress a revolution: the torture of children.
Several weeks later, Hamza al-Khatib, a 13-year-old boy, again from a village in Dar’a, became the symbol of the Syria’s blossoming revolution. He was tortured to death for participating in a demonstration. Dar’a citizens staged massive demonstrations. For so many years, people had been mobilizing around reforming the system, but suddenly the focus shifted to the overthrow of the regime, as was happening in Tunisia and Egypt.
The women of Syria, both young and old, have been courageously leading many protest activities throughout the country. For them, it is personal, and they are deeply invested in the idea of change. In, April in the city of Bayda, nearly every adult male was imprisoned in an attack on the town to repress government opposition. More marches and protests followed.
Women have also been active in funeral processions, traditionally the domain of men. (Women normally mourn at home.) When women began coming out in large numbers, they too became victims of the regime’s violence. And they adapted. Syrian women traditionally do not cover their faces in public, but they are doing so during protests to protect their identities, as are many men. A clever adaptation to the face veil can be seen here, as women use the Syrian flag as a face cover, doubling as protection and a message to a regime that accuses them of being part of a foreign-led regime change plot.
Women, both expats and in the country, are extremely active. Still, protestors on the streets are mostly men. And the aspiring transitional government, the Syrian National Council, are mostly men. Between the protestors and the aspiring government, there is the wide middle wherein lies a huge network of people, many of whom are women. That network is helping document disappearances, deaths, forced detentions and torture. And they are communicating the news to the outside world through technology tools like social media and video posts on YouTube. Women are recording their actions on the ground and sharing that information with Syrian expatriates in London, Paris, Northern Virginia, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, New York and New Jersey.
“I didn’t realize how Syrian I was until this uprising began. I am a U.S. citizen by birth and have spent only a few years in Syria, as a child and later as an adult. I was disappointed,” my friend reflects, often with tears welling. “Now I realize that what I hated about my country: it was the system.” Another Syrian expat woman, Mohja Kahf, writes regularly and provides analysis, video and photos of the ongoing revolution—particularly women in resistance. Their work is full of risks. Many Syrians expats who are active in the movement understand that they are being watched by Syrian intelligence agents. Rafif and other Syrian women from around the world translate news and spread it through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They spread awareness globally and also offer information to the insiders on effective civil disobedience.
Rafif explains her motivation to take part in the uprising: “I get to do this while Syrians inside the country are getting shot at. Seven and eight year old children who even speak of freedom are considered enemies of the state. When they take to the streets, it’s like a suicide mission. But they’d rather die than be silent. I look at how these children are being harmed, and I think, ‘that child could be my son or daughter.’ As a mother, a woman, and a human being, how could I not get involved?”
She recognizes that some may see them as supporting the revolution from “9 to 5.” Rafif acknowledges that she gets to go home each night in relative safety. But she is confident that many Syrians on the inside are appreciative of the support from their fellow Syrians on the outside. “We are helping broadcast the revolution and building global awareness,” Rafif explains between tears and determination, gripping her laptop full of first-hand accounts and resources.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
You're more important than politics
For countless days, I've been monitoring the events in Syria, only wishing I could take part. Though as time wore on, I received numerous comments along the lines of "Your life is more important than politics, it's a good thing you're not actively protesting" and "Why should you care? It's not your problem to fix."
My life is more important than politics?
What about the 3,000 + who have died so far in Syria? What about the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of those who have or are currently detained by the Syrian regime, who are subject to extreme torture during every day they are detained? It's OK that they are subjected to that kind of life whilst we sit in our homes unaffected by a cruel regime? Not every single person killed or detained were actively protesting; some were by-standers, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and others were relatives of those involved.
Syria, a population of approximately 23 million, has lived in relative silence for 40 years (too long). Yes I understand that no government is perfect, but that doesn't mean we should stay quiet on a regime that kills its own people and abuses all human rights. I've always despised the American government especially in its foreign policies along with the British such as the Iraq war, the Afghanistan war as well as Guantanamo Bay. I'm sure I would despise many more European governments if I came to research more about them, many of whom are imperialistic and colonial, but at least westerners have more opportunities than those in Syria. Though that doesn't mean we can't take the time to improve each and every one of those countries. I will continue to highlight the abuses of the western governments, so why should I not of the Syrian regime? How can society improve, whichever society it may be, without constant dialogue, without people actively engaging in issues and highlighting abuses? Syrians have never been actively involved in politics; only a small portion of the population are and they are often subject to harassment and detainment. Politics affects every part of people's lives.
Human rights abuses were evident for a long time in Syria where there's a long history of arbitrary arrest, unfair trials and prolonged detentions. At least five detainees died in custody in 2010, with no serious investigations into their deaths by the authorities. That's just in 2010. Kurds also face constant discrimination, when also in 2010, security forces shot at a crowd of Kurds celebrating the Kurdish New Year in the city of Raqqa, in northern Syria, in order to disperse them where at least one was killed. It wasn't until April of this year (2011) where Kurds were allowed to obtain citizenship; a demand they've been requesting for many years but was only granted after nationwide protests took place across Syria as a way to end the protests. I could go on for ages writing about the abuses many Syrians have faced, ranging decades back such as the Tadmor prison massacre and the Hama massacre to name a couple though I'm sure there's ample sites that could advance your knowledge on Syrian history.
Corruption in Syria is very high. It's estimated that Rami Makhlouf, Bashar al-Assad's maternal cousin, controls approximately 60% of Syria's economy. Makhlouf's large network of regional business partners provides Bashar al-Assad with enormous leverage at home and provides the regime with a layer of protection against outside Arab pressures; an asset that Bashar wouldn't want to lose. Many speculate that the Assad family themselves are directly benefited by Rami's ventures by hidden profits being supplied to them, but there's currently no solid evidence to support it. According to the US Department of the Treasury, “Makhlouf has manipulated the Syrian judicial system and used Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals. He employed these techniques when trying to acquire exclusive licenses to represent foreign companies in Syria and to obtain contract awards.” Rami is the very symbol of corruption in Syria.
Assad's regime's main goal is to stay in power. As a result, its interest will never shift to economic growth and development. Syria's culture of corruption inherently blocks meaningful long-term domestic reform. The regime has had years to develop meaningful reforms to help the working and middle class but instead has resorted to superficial gestures of improvement; most state initiatives are Potemkin reform at best, merely façades.
So tell me why Bashar al-Assad should stay in power? Why should the Ba'ath party be the only political party to legally exist in Syria? Why can't a nation be involved in it's politics?
The current regime has no incentive to engage with the opposition. They haven't done so in the past 7 months, nor are they trying to now. Until they engage in dialogue and call back their army and shabeeha, then people will go out to protest. When the regime affects every part of the civilians lives, causing many to be outraged at the lack of opportunities, the lack of money and clear violations of human rights, you expect people to sit back and say thank you?
How can you expect me to sit back whilst all of this is happening?
N.B. If I hear one more person stating that what is happening is an American/British/Israeli/Saudi/Qatari conspiracy where those just mentioned fund armed gangs within Syria, with the aim at destabilising the region, I will literally explode. The Assads haven't done anything good worth mentioning domestically in Syria. The resistance to Israel and America comes from the people, not from a government that doesn't know how to lead a country. Though if that's what you really truly believe, then be it. But for the anti-imperialists, anti-NATO, anti colonialists out there who aren't Syrian, please stay out of it; it really infuriates me to see people who are not directly implicated or involved, who have not been or lived in Syria think they know what they're talking about when they say this is all one big conspiracy in order to help their resistance.
My life is more important than politics?
What about the 3,000 + who have died so far in Syria? What about the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of those who have or are currently detained by the Syrian regime, who are subject to extreme torture during every day they are detained? It's OK that they are subjected to that kind of life whilst we sit in our homes unaffected by a cruel regime? Not every single person killed or detained were actively protesting; some were by-standers, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and others were relatives of those involved.
Syria, a population of approximately 23 million, has lived in relative silence for 40 years (too long). Yes I understand that no government is perfect, but that doesn't mean we should stay quiet on a regime that kills its own people and abuses all human rights. I've always despised the American government especially in its foreign policies along with the British such as the Iraq war, the Afghanistan war as well as Guantanamo Bay. I'm sure I would despise many more European governments if I came to research more about them, many of whom are imperialistic and colonial, but at least westerners have more opportunities than those in Syria. Though that doesn't mean we can't take the time to improve each and every one of those countries. I will continue to highlight the abuses of the western governments, so why should I not of the Syrian regime? How can society improve, whichever society it may be, without constant dialogue, without people actively engaging in issues and highlighting abuses? Syrians have never been actively involved in politics; only a small portion of the population are and they are often subject to harassment and detainment. Politics affects every part of people's lives.
Human rights abuses were evident for a long time in Syria where there's a long history of arbitrary arrest, unfair trials and prolonged detentions. At least five detainees died in custody in 2010, with no serious investigations into their deaths by the authorities. That's just in 2010. Kurds also face constant discrimination, when also in 2010, security forces shot at a crowd of Kurds celebrating the Kurdish New Year in the city of Raqqa, in northern Syria, in order to disperse them where at least one was killed. It wasn't until April of this year (2011) where Kurds were allowed to obtain citizenship; a demand they've been requesting for many years but was only granted after nationwide protests took place across Syria as a way to end the protests. I could go on for ages writing about the abuses many Syrians have faced, ranging decades back such as the Tadmor prison massacre and the Hama massacre to name a couple though I'm sure there's ample sites that could advance your knowledge on Syrian history.
Corruption in Syria is very high. It's estimated that Rami Makhlouf, Bashar al-Assad's maternal cousin, controls approximately 60% of Syria's economy. Makhlouf's large network of regional business partners provides Bashar al-Assad with enormous leverage at home and provides the regime with a layer of protection against outside Arab pressures; an asset that Bashar wouldn't want to lose. Many speculate that the Assad family themselves are directly benefited by Rami's ventures by hidden profits being supplied to them, but there's currently no solid evidence to support it. According to the US Department of the Treasury, “Makhlouf has manipulated the Syrian judicial system and used Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals. He employed these techniques when trying to acquire exclusive licenses to represent foreign companies in Syria and to obtain contract awards.” Rami is the very symbol of corruption in Syria.
Assad's regime's main goal is to stay in power. As a result, its interest will never shift to economic growth and development. Syria's culture of corruption inherently blocks meaningful long-term domestic reform. The regime has had years to develop meaningful reforms to help the working and middle class but instead has resorted to superficial gestures of improvement; most state initiatives are Potemkin reform at best, merely façades.
So tell me why Bashar al-Assad should stay in power? Why should the Ba'ath party be the only political party to legally exist in Syria? Why can't a nation be involved in it's politics?
The current regime has no incentive to engage with the opposition. They haven't done so in the past 7 months, nor are they trying to now. Until they engage in dialogue and call back their army and shabeeha, then people will go out to protest. When the regime affects every part of the civilians lives, causing many to be outraged at the lack of opportunities, the lack of money and clear violations of human rights, you expect people to sit back and say thank you?
How can you expect me to sit back whilst all of this is happening?
N.B. If I hear one more person stating that what is happening is an American/British/Israeli/Saudi/Qatari conspiracy where those just mentioned fund armed gangs within Syria, with the aim at destabilising the region, I will literally explode. The Assads haven't done anything good worth mentioning domestically in Syria. The resistance to Israel and America comes from the people, not from a government that doesn't know how to lead a country. Though if that's what you really truly believe, then be it. But for the anti-imperialists, anti-NATO, anti colonialists out there who aren't Syrian, please stay out of it; it really infuriates me to see people who are not directly implicated or involved, who have not been or lived in Syria think they know what they're talking about when they say this is all one big conspiracy in order to help their resistance.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Children of Daraa
I really like the following cartoon. There are quite a few political cartoonists who regularly draw on Syria; their pictures are certainly quite clever. Near the child at the bottom of the picture, the text reads "Children of Daraa".
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Homs, Syria
Here's a video of a lovely protest in Homs (Inshaat), a central city in Syria as well as being one of the most active cities in the Syrian uprising (21/10/2011):
I love Homs; my heart and thoughts are with every single Homsi.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Panorama: Syria Inside the Secret Revolution
A Panorama programme on Syria was aired on BBC last week (26/09/2011). It focuses on Daraa, a southern city of Syria, where the revolution began in March. It's a good programme, which I would recommend people to watch.
Monday, October 03, 2011
An event that changed me
A couple of months back, I was asked by my old school teacher to write an account of an event in my life that changed me, which I happily did (to be used for a school assignment). Of course I wrote about Syria, so here it is, since I wanted to share it with you all.
Nine months ago, I made the decision to spend some time in Syria, to volunteer and improve my Arabic, hoping one day my improved skills will be brought to good use. Though the events that came about during these 9 months, caused me disappointment initially, as it meant my parents wouldn’t allow me to travel to Syria; it turned out to be a huge lesson in disguise.
Unlike most people I’ve encountered, I struggled with an identity. As an Arab and a Syrian, I grew up in a small middle class English town since my early years. I was never surrounded by Arabs nor did I speak Arabic as fluently as I would like despite understanding it completely. I never had an Arab accent nor do I ‘look’ like an Arab. But I’m an ‘outsider’. I’m an outsider despite being schooled here all my life. I’m an ‘outsider’ despite having a English accent. I’m an ‘outsider’ despite volunteering to put something good back into society. I’m an ‘outsider’ despite feeling English and British. As an ‘outsider’, I should “go back to where I come from” as some kindly put it.
Summer vacations were spent in Syria for as long as I can remember. I’ve always held a connection to the country and each year I would miss the atmosphere. But I never felt that I truly belonged. Again, I felt like an outsider but for more obvious reasons. Reasons such as my accent and my Arabic proficiency, or lack of it I should say, as well as how I dressed.
Many will probably have not heard of Syria. Syria, with a population of 23 million, lies between Turkey and Jordan, as well as bordering Lebanon, Israel and Iraq. It’s a central Arab country whether in culture or in politics. In March, a number of events became a spark that catalysed into the beginning of an uprising; an uprising that eventually demanded for the fall of the president, Bashar Al-Assad, who inherited rule from his late father in 2000, who reigned for 29 years up until his death.
For days, I read all the news I could gather on Syria. Security forces would shoot at peaceful protesters who took to the streets of Syria to demand dignity, free speech, release of political detainees, the end of emergency laws and an end of human rights abuses. The Syrian ‘government’ however manufactured ‘conspiracies’ to undermine the protests. Syrian officials initially claimed that ‘Islamic extremists’ are to blame for the events. Over time it became ‘armed gangs’ and ‘terrorists’ funded by the west and serving Zionist interests, are conspiring a plot against Syria, in order to cause chaos and instability in the Middle East.
During this time, I became involved. What started as an interest, turned into an obligation. I began to collate information together and then raise awareness of events. My mind was fixated on Syria; a topic that dominated my world where I felt I had to talk about it non-stop. It also dominated my social networking sites. Weeks later though , a call from my uncle tells me to “tone it down,” that my actions have severe consequences attached; if I keep going I will be detained upon arrival at Damascus airport by security forces. I will be tortured though how long I’ll be detained for and will the torture lead to my death would be the only uncertainties.
For the first time in my life, I was, and still am to an extent, in fear beyond what I’ve ever experienced. I saw videos emerge of bodies tortured to death; they didn’t even spare 13 year old boys, where their bodies were severely mutilated. I deleted everything online, making sure all traces of evidence were gone. Though this time a different kind of heavy feeling set in my stomach; I’m turning into a hypocrite who would outwardly ask for a better world to live in but doing nothing to achieve it.
What hit home for me was the death of Ibrahim Qaloush, a poet who voiced his opinions, in the city of Hama. His own chants and slogans became revolutionary anthems across Syria. Protests in Hama brought hundreds of thousands of Syrians, all of whom were calling for the downfall of the regime. Videos of Ibrahim Qaloush’s protests went viral around the world, and brought smiles to every Syrian watching until he was found dead by a river bank. Security forces severely cut his throat; a powerful symbolic move for chanting out his lyrics at protests. Am I capable to overlook these crimes?
The Syrian uprising has brought me my identity. It brought me the feeling of belonging and an obligation to help. It made me question my character on honesty and courage. It made me question what right and wrong is, and the shades in-between. Ultimately, it provided me with a greater identity; I feel more Syrian and Arab than I ever felt before. I feel passionate about Syria and I’m proud to be from among a people who are against all odds to succeed. Every night, my dreams take me to the streets of Syria, where I long to be right now, where I can stand by my fellow Syrians and chant “Yalla irhal ya Bashar”; “Leave Bashar”.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Ali Farzat
I dedicate this post to Ali Farzat, a Syrian political cartoonist, who speaks outright against the regime, or more appropriately I should say, draws his views against the regime (below are images of some of his work, taken from his website). Yesterday, Ali Farzat was beaten up savagely by the Syrian security forces and subsequently left on a Damascus road, where people then took him to hospital to be treated.
As always, we should admire the courage and bravery of our fellow Syrians, for risking their lives to demand freedom and dignity from a brutal repressive regime.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
You are the revolution
Imagine the situation that's been occurring in Hama. It's 40°C. Under siege for days without water, electricity or access to contact anyone.
The food you have is whatever is stored in your home, and without electricity cooking anything is not possible. Anyone venturing outside their homes is likely to be shot by a sniper, yet there are many who are trying to get food in order to feed their families, so they don't starve to death.
Access to hospitals is also out of bounds as is the pharmacy, so if you are ill, or injured, you have to self-medicate at home or suffer in pain. With electricity being cut, hospitals can't function fully, and there are reports of many babies dying in their incubators due to this.
Shelling of the city has been going on day & night. Random shelling of homes that are occupied, shops & businesses. There is no peace of mind, sleep is hard to come by. Army forces can knock on your door at any moment & arrest all the males, shabiha thugs will rape the women while the security forces steal all things valuable and leave in a trail of destruction.
It's Friday, yet no mosque was allowed to perform Friday prayers. The mosques were all closed & empty. Any mosque that called for prayers had it's minaret shelled & bombed.
This is only the watered down version or lite version of what is going on. The same happened in Dar'a, Baniyas, Homs, Latakia & it's now taking place in Deir ezZor & Hama.
The food you have is whatever is stored in your home, and without electricity cooking anything is not possible. Anyone venturing outside their homes is likely to be shot by a sniper, yet there are many who are trying to get food in order to feed their families, so they don't starve to death.
Access to hospitals is also out of bounds as is the pharmacy, so if you are ill, or injured, you have to self-medicate at home or suffer in pain. With electricity being cut, hospitals can't function fully, and there are reports of many babies dying in their incubators due to this.
Shelling of the city has been going on day & night. Random shelling of homes that are occupied, shops & businesses. There is no peace of mind, sleep is hard to come by. Army forces can knock on your door at any moment & arrest all the males, shabiha thugs will rape the women while the security forces steal all things valuable and leave in a trail of destruction.
It's Friday, yet no mosque was allowed to perform Friday prayers. The mosques were all closed & empty. Any mosque that called for prayers had it's minaret shelled & bombed.
This is only the watered down version or lite version of what is going on. The same happened in Dar'a, Baniyas, Homs, Latakia & it's now taking place in Deir ezZor & Hama.
Did you know all this? Does your neighbours, work colleagues, fellow students, friends & family know all this? Does your MP know all of this? With human rights abuses taking place left, right & centre! With a massacre going on, the world media still insist on not highlighting the events in Syria fully. Newspapers put us on the latter pages with little info provided. TV & satellite news channels dedicate only a few minutes to Syria without fully disclosing the real events taking place. There hasn't been much discussion on the radio channels regarding Syria. If not for the Internet activists, then news on Syria would have been scarcely available.
Help spread the word. Don't be silent, don't be passive. Please please be active, read, like, comment, share, protest, write letters, phone radio & TV stations, lobby, sign petitions etc.... YOU ARE THE REVOLUTION!!!
Help spread the word. Don't be silent, don't be passive. Please please be active, read, like, comment, share, protest, write letters, phone radio & TV stations, lobby, sign petitions etc.... YOU ARE THE REVOLUTION!!!
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Map of protests in Syria- 07/08/11
Here is a map of protests across Syria , on Sunday 07/08/2011:
View Syria - Sunday 07/08/2011 in a larger map
Peaceful Protesters
I wanted to share a few videos of protests from a few areas of Syria, all of which are from the evening of 07/08/2011. I wanted to highlight from these videos that there is no violence at protests, that protesters are not armed and are certainly peaceful. Protests right across the country since mid-March have been like this, until mukhabarat turns up creating violence.
(I will try to upload videos, on a regular basis, of protests across the country in order to show the continued peacefulness of protesters in Syria.)
Deir Ba'albah, Homs:
Waer, Homs:
(I will try to upload videos, on a regular basis, of protests across the country in order to show the continued peacefulness of protesters in Syria.)
Deir Ba'albah, Homs:
Latakia:
Qadam, Damascus:
Saturday, August 06, 2011
The killing of a dream
The following video takes a look into the Bahrani uprising that is still on-going. I urge at least all Syrians to watch, to see the similarities between the two uprisings: the injustice, the propaganda, the military intervention and occupation, chaos caused by intervention, casualties, death, mass arrests as well as the pain and anguish of protesters.
My heart goes out to every Bahrani. I can now truly understand their pain and suffering. I wish that one day their dreams will come true and their demands are met Inshallah. I hope those opposing the Syrian Uprising watches and learns from Arab uprisings across the region.
How does Assad differ from Mubarak? Or Gaddafi? Or Al Khalifa, the King or Crown Prince of Bahrain? Syrians who called for the fall of Mubarak and Gaddafi and now oppose the Syrian Uprising, how can you even justify your support for Assad and Ba'ath party now?
How does Assad differ from Mubarak? Or Gaddafi? Or Al Khalifa, the King or Crown Prince of Bahrain? Syrians who called for the fall of Mubarak and Gaddafi and now oppose the Syrian Uprising, how can you even justify your support for Assad and Ba'ath party now?
Friday, August 05, 2011
In the face of death, it ain't a waste of breath
In the Darkest Hour
When the world has turned away
And no one’s watching
When the sky has turned to gray
And you have no options
When your voice is illegal
Only choice for the people
Is to stand up proudly
In the face of death
It ain’t a waste of breath
When you speak up loudly
You can’t take our freedom or take our soul
Take our freedom or take our soul
You are not the one that’s in control
La illaha illallah
No power’s greater than God’s
Go ahead and devise your plans
At the end of the day you are just a man
Syrian Uprising...
For countless hours, I have spent keeping up with the news of the Syrian uprising. Back in March I had a university interview, after which I hoped to then spend 6 months lazing around in Syria, hanging out with the family, teaching English, improving my Arabic and enjoying the lovely weather and country that Syria beholds. Who wouldn't enjoy spending their time in numerous Syrian towns and cities? Though the week of my interview was when the Syrian Uprising began - 15th March 2011 (though to be fair there have been protests in Syria prior to the 15th March, but it really took steam from then onwards).
To start off with, protesters didn't demand or call for the removal of Assad or the Ba'ath party. Demands included the end of emergency laws, the release of political detainees and more political freedom. As time passed, we saw countless human rights abuses and very little reforms made. As a result, protesters began demanding that Bashar should leave "Yalla irhal ya Bashar" as well as demanding the fall of the regime "Sha3ab areed iskat al nizam" (translated appropriately to "The Syrian people demand the toppling of the regime").
Of course there are still genuine pro-regime supporters out there, mainly because they benefit from the regime being there and could also have a lot to lose if they left. Everyone involved with the regime could potentially face punishment if Assad were to fall. Many still claim that what Syria is facing is a conspiracy aimed to destabilise Syria first and then the whole region. They also claim that many of the protesters are armed and are causing all the violence, that the Syrian army is only protecting the Syrian people from "armed gangs" and Islamic extremists. The Syrian regime isn't the only one promoting these claims - Libyan and Bahrani governments use similar tactics to suppress their own protests and uprisings.
I counter these claims stating that so far, the majority of videos coming out from Syria are showing protesters to be peaceful. Protests in a number of regions since the start of the uprising has seen no violence by protesters which a number of videos give testimony to. Syrians, I know and completely trust, who are protesting on a regular basis in Syria are stating that they are peaceful and that are not armed. Many videos do show live fire used by mukhabarat against protesters in a number of places as well as showing graphic videos of dead Syrians at the hands of the mukhabarat, shabiha and army units. Of course there are times, when protesters do avenge the killings; we have seen videos whereby police officers have been beaten and killed in some instances but so far I've found these to be few and very rare. On the whole it is the Syrian regime causing all the violence, bloodshed, civilian casualities and deaths. Of course protesters involved in crimes, should be put to trial and tried justly, but the numbers involved in this category are a very small minority. I find it understandable that protesters would want to avenge the killings, since there's the saying "an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth", but I would rather the Syrian regime be tried in court and each one punished accordingly and I wouldn't want my fellow countrymen to steep down to the regime's level of atrocities.
What the Syrian regime is doing is wrong. It cannot suppress protests with violence. It cannot torture its own civilians, whether men, women or children. It cannot kill its own civilians. How can Syrians justify such horrendous acts of violence against its own people? For this reason alone, Bashar and his regime should go. It doesn't matter whether Bashar al Assad has the full power of the country; the whole Ba'ath party should be dissolved. The Ba'ath party was responsible for many crimes throughout their rule, and will continue to be responsible for many more crimes if they continue to rule. Crimes such as the Hama massacre in 1982 where they took at least 10,000 lives (though numbers are more likely to be over 40,000 since many are still missing and not registered as dead), the Tadmor prison massacre, and the Jisr al-Shughour massacre. Since the Assads began rule, they have detained many Syrians for political reasons and have subjected many of them to torture.
For me, this is the first time I live through and feel the pain of my fellow Syrians. Family members and friends have been through ordeals because of Rifaat and Hafiz al Assad (and now Bashar too); their stories alone send shocks down my spine. Hearing what Syrians currently are experiencing are sending more shivers and shocks down my spine again.
I hope 50 years from now, we will look back in history and see how much we have moved forward; progress which we would never seen under the current party. We do have numerous obstacles along the way, but let's start by removing the Ba'ath party. We need to punish those responsible for crimes against humanity. We need to rid the country of corruption. Day after day, we will continue to make Syria a better country. Let not the excuse of chaos ruin what we could have, and not let chaos become a reality. We owe it to the martyrs. We it owe it every Syrian who risked their lives. We it owe it every Syrian who was detained and tortured just so we can be free from the Ba'ath party and Assad rule, so we see a better future.
So let's start again...
I've had a few blogs in the past, where I ended up feeling too 'chicken' to keep them online for fear of the consequences it could bring. It came to the point now, where I feel I should start again.
I want to use this blog to help raise awareness of what's currently happening in Syria, a way to express my own thoughts and opinions and also hope to convey the demands of those protesting out in the streets of Syria. I've had countless heated discussions with family members on the current events, where we really do differ on our opinions. Maybe this is just a taster of what to expect in post-Assad Syria.
In time I will write more and more on Syria.
I want to use this blog to help raise awareness of what's currently happening in Syria, a way to express my own thoughts and opinions and also hope to convey the demands of those protesting out in the streets of Syria. I've had countless heated discussions with family members on the current events, where we really do differ on our opinions. Maybe this is just a taster of what to expect in post-Assad Syria.
In time I will write more and more on Syria.
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