Protests of Syria
On the 26th of January, 2011, small peaceful protests in Dara'a, Syria emerged. The protesters demanded more freedom, and end to corruption. Within 2 weeks 60 people were killed. It all started with the people of Dara'a. The citizens took to protest over the torture of Students who put up Anti-government Graffiti. As time went on, the ongoing internal conflict escalated to use of Governmental Authority, suspending Constitutional rights, and on April 21st, the government declared the repeal of an emergency law, that had been in effect since 1963, but was never fully put into play. Soon after the emergency-law went into play, the President of Syria, Bashar Al-Assad, wanted to replace the law with an Anti-terrorism law. This would kept the people of Syria from protesting. However 60 people ended up dead in within two weeks of the protest. Their death was caused by open fire, by snipers and Tanks on them, in order to control the citizens. This however did not control them. Security forces then started to shut off water and electricity, and even took away food in some areas. Before any of this happened though, On March 29th thousands of people in Syria joined rallies organized by the Government, keeping the few who tried to spark chaos, from doing so.
The protests got so horrible that the U.S started to get involved to help control the citizens. However once president Obama became president, on August 8th, 2011, he prohibited Americans from engaging in any transaction with the government of Syria, Before hand Obama even told the president of Syria, Assad, to step down, but he refused. He didn't want to lose his power that he has kept in his family for many years. With a lot of hatred for Assad, this created pressure on the Syrian Government. A lot of people agreed that if Assad doesn't back down, Syria's current chaos might destroy the country. Assad did a lot that was against the people such as drowning out pro-democracy. Assad “will never accept that syria become a western puppet state”.
In order to restore the government, The government had made major offensives to recover territory and population. There was also peaceful tries to get the government under control. One example was a rare gathering in Damascus. The gathering was for peaceful transition to Democracy and to end Assad's family power. However these attempts did not successfully work. There was too much economic damage, and many left dead. On May, 29th 2011, a 13 year old Syrian boy was found tortured and nearly dead. His head was noted as swollen, he was purple, disfigured, there were bullet wounds and cigarette burns on his skin. Not only that but his kneecaps were smashed, his neck was broken, and his jaw was shattered. The video of the torturing also hit the internet, where many saw. This created even MORE protests throughout Syria. The use of Chemical weapons also created a stir. Chemical weapons were used to attack the outskirts of Damascus, which left hundreds dead. Soon after Assad forced to agree to destroy Syria's chemical weapons for the better. By October there was a total death toll of 2,900 people and 10,000 arrested by police and security forces.
The protests were for freedom. Overall every protest had a domino effect on the government and society. Many were left killed, brutally tortured or injured, and/or arrested. All this however started with the wave of Arab uprisings. Also the ethnic Division within the country created problems. This was because there was a Alawite section in a mostly Sunni Country. This created differences throughout society, and making it hard for the Syrian citizens to agree with each other. Today the country still stands with Assad in power.
Where are they now?
With at least 220,000 people killed, and 12.2 million people in need of humanity aid in Syria, it is said that Syria hasn't gotten enough help to recover. With 4 years of hell, the war in Syria is still going on due to Bashar Al-Assad not backing down, causing a violent uprising. It is said that 2014 was the year that most people were killed, and the most deadly year to. It was reported that 76,000 people were killed by violence in Syria last year. Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council stated, "Every time i've visited the Syria region, I've thought it cannot get any worse. And then it does. We are #FailingSyria".
With at least 220,000 people killed, and 12.2 million people in need of humanity aid in Syria, it is said that Syria hasn't gotten enough help to recover. With 4 years of hell, the war in Syria is still going on due to Bashar Al-Assad not backing down, causing a violent uprising. It is said that 2014 was the year that most people were killed, and the most deadly year to. It was reported that 76,000 people were killed by violence in Syria last year. Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council stated, "Every time i've visited the Syria region, I've thought it cannot get any worse. And then it does. We are #FailingSyria".
Citations
Websites:
"Arab Uprising: Country by Country." BBC News. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-12482309>.
"Why Bashar Al-Assad Refuses to Step down in Syria | The Herald." The Herald. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.herald.co.zw/why-bashar-al-assad-refuses-to-step-down-in-syria/>.
"Factbox: Protests in Middle East, North Africa." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/31/us-mideast-protests-idUSTRE72U4XB20110331?pag eNumber=1>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. unknown author <http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline>.
"Middle East and North Africa in Turmoil: Tracking the Protests." Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/world/middle-east-protests/>.
"Arab Spring: A Research & Study Guide * الربيع العربي: Home." Home. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=31688&p=200753>.
Videos:
Barbara Walters Interview with Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad: 'There Was No Command to Kill'" YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://youtu.be/bsyQ442Xvnw>.
"Full AlJazeera Report on Daraa and Syrian Protests on 26th March 2011." YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://youtu.be/z5Esgx7H9Bk>.
Photos:
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://arabspring-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/كوباني2.jpg>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/files/2011/09/Syria-Protests-Assad-Damascus-Arab-Spring-.jpg>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.fragilestates.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Syrias-Religious-Demography.jpg>.
"Arab Uprising: Country by Country." BBC News. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-12482309>.
"Why Bashar Al-Assad Refuses to Step down in Syria | The Herald." The Herald. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.herald.co.zw/why-bashar-al-assad-refuses-to-step-down-in-syria/>.
"Factbox: Protests in Middle East, North Africa." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/31/us-mideast-protests-idUSTRE72U4XB20110331?pag eNumber=1>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. unknown author <http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline>.
"Middle East and North Africa in Turmoil: Tracking the Protests." Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/world/middle-east-protests/>.
"Arab Spring: A Research & Study Guide * الربيع العربي: Home." Home. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=31688&p=200753>.
Videos:
Barbara Walters Interview with Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad: 'There Was No Command to Kill'" YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://youtu.be/bsyQ442Xvnw>.
"Full AlJazeera Report on Daraa and Syrian Protests on 26th March 2011." YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://youtu.be/z5Esgx7H9Bk>.
Photos:
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://arabspring-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/كوباني2.jpg>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/files/2011/09/Syria-Protests-Assad-Damascus-Arab-Spring-.jpg>.
Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.fragilestates.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Syrias-Religious-Demography.jpg>.