A Damascus Cameo
Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
A Damascus Cameo
By a Friend in Damascus
April 17, 2011
The Syrian turmoil is a surprising and challenging experience for Bashar and his governmental disciples. Over the last few weeks, Damascus has witnessed immense and eager protests in support of the current regime, while reports of uprisings calling for freedom, release of political prisoners and ends to corruption also spring in different quarters of cities all over Syria including Damascus. Security personnel have shaped the response to these pro-freedom rallies with the use of weaponry and brutality. Media notarization of the events has also been curtailed by the state; many foreigners in Damascus are seen as conspicuous agents propagating a falsified image of the turmoil in Syria. Further, the state and Syrian media have continually declared that foreign media in hand with foreign and sectarian entities have created plots to spark unrest in civil society. Thus, the blame has continually been on external agents whom would benefit if the country were to go up in flames and see the dynasty and the Arab heart of the Middle East crumble. Syria’s defiant position against Israel and America validate its argument for many Syrians, especially those in Damascus.
The pro-Bashar spirit in Damascus is a force to reckon with. There are numerous reports that these protests are fabricated by the state, however, it is undeniable that many of the populace abide and adore their current president. Many believe he is a true reformer but the governmental parameters of his operation impede his ability to rejuvenate Syrian economy and society. It is also factual that many configurations to Syrian society have developed since his inception of the presidency in 2000; examples can be the economic liberalization policies that have allowed many to thrive economically with the opening of international banking and investment services and free trade economic agreements with its neighbors. These reforms have loosened the formerly nationalized country and it has opened up a platform of modernization and liberalization of Syrian society. Hence, many of the peoples whom have gained from these policies and reforms glorify and applaud the president in face of the restrictive experience they witnessed under his father, Hafez Al-Assad.
On the other end of the spectrum, these pro-Bashar rallies also evoke a sense of persuasion, coercion and sense of fear. In the streets of Damascus since the past Friday, many cars honk and blast nationalistic songs, almost all commercial spaces have attached posters and flags of the president to show their loyalty. If you are not part of the festivities, it somehow radiates you in the space. As an example, many block main streets by parking their cars horizontally, thereafter the people start to dance, chant and hold flags to show their belonging to the presidency. Thus, all the congestion and all the parades are deliberately trying to remove people from the vehicles and join them for their theatrics; it becomes an imposition. A young Damascene who was driving in the streets discussed during an evening where the major rallies were going on for Bashar, some protesters slapped posters on his car and gave him flags to carry or attach on his car because his vehicle was lacking these pro-regime artifacts.
On Tuesday the 29th of March, all Syrian schools, public and governmental agencies, and members of the public were given the day off to join in on the protests that were summoned as the day of Bashar, hundred of thousands of people came to protest in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs in jubilation of the regime and president. This governmental strategy presents a deliberate measure taken by the government to force people to take part in the protests; further, the Syrian media and officials alike hail these protests. This was the day before Bashar’s first public speech due to the unrest.
For the last week on a daily basis the Syria channel has been showing a urban diary of cities all over Syria, where people continually advise and discuss that matters and processes in the city as all very normal and everyone is devout to the regime, and that they patronize those victims of these external forces or ‘devil whispers’ as the Syrian TV channel described. The Syrian channel continuously proposes that this unrest is only due to sectarian and foreign agents trained to create unrest in Syria. Groups from Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, America, Palestine and Iraq have been blamed for trying to create instability. A recent article published by SANA, the Syrian news agency, discusses that Amir Bandar, the former Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to America, and Jeffery Feltman have financed and created a organized plot to overthrow and destabilize the Syrian regime.
Foreign media is also seen as another agent that is exaggerating and creating malfeasance to the Syrian stability. As an example, On the 29th of March pro-regime protesters threatened to storm the Al-Jazeera news building in Damascus if they were not shown on the Al-Jazeera screen because, according to them, the news agency was not showing a just picture of the happenings because they are in much appreciation and diligence to the current regime. On the 16th of April, yet again many Damascenes gathered outside Al-Jazeera news stations offices in Damascus and claimed these media corporations are creating sedition and subversion about the events in Syria. Al-Arabiya and BBC Arabic are also targeted as propagators of the events in Syria.
It is clear that Syria is at a divide now, although the commonality between these divisions held is reform. Many people in Damascus are very much in support of the regime but there are many questions about their honesty in the way they showcase it. As an example, the student rallies that happened at Damascus University were all wearing black hooded sweaters, but underneath the sweater students wore t-shirts that read “we love you Bashar”, in this manner if security was to come to detain and disperse the student protesters they would show them the t-shirts which would provide security with no reason for imprisonment or abolishment of the protest. Certain measures taken by the regime have enforced people to partake in these rallies to solidify the regime’s position, further, the extensive use of nationalistic artifacts and symbols has also created a sense of you are with or against the regime. The word on Damascus streets is that if a person is to be part of the planned protests, they are considered against the regime and an enemy to the stability and position of Syria. It is clear a policy of divide and conquer/control is being implemented here. Syria has continually advised that unrest is due to external agents but there is also a certain strategy that is creating a sense of brainwashing and mainstreaming the population into propaganda media and belief that is only fostering divisions and challenging the harmony of Syria. Many billboards and posters have surfaced all over Syria warning of sedition. One particularly interesting poster is one warning people of men posing and hoaxing as Syrian security personnel whom are shooting at civilians. Others read “no to disturbance and all for Syrian unity”.
It is quite undeniable that now the majority of people in Damascus resent those protesting. A Syrian local said “I hope 500 die or even 1,000, how dare they challenge our country and be a victim of these plots to demonize Arabs”, he later added “If they give me a choice I would have no problem killing these shaabi (popular) animals, I cannot believe they dared to come in and walk in al-sham (Damascus)”. Protesters from Douma, a Damascus suburb, tried to march all the way into the center of Damascus to reach Al-Abassiyeen Square on the 15th of April, this march aggravated many people in Damascus. He lastly added how was John McCain able to prove that on Friday many protests were to be held in cities all over Syria in his announcement on Thursday the 15th, this statement only combusted to the wide-held Syrian belief that the unrest is a planned external strategy. Many now believe, even anti-government or pro-freedom lobbies that Syria is under threat of armed groups that have been able to mobilize clashes in Syria, maybe not at the start of the events but have infiltrated along the month of Syrian instability. Al-Tayar il Mustaqbal, a political Sunni group from Lebanon has been declared by Syrian officials as smugglers of weapons and sending trained people to trigger upset in the Syrian street. Further, other reports of Khaddami loyalists have influenced the dynamic events of Baniyas, Khaddam’s hometown. Syrian media and TV channels are persistently showing footage of weapons and people that Syrian security apparatus has recovered since the inception of the unrest; most of it validating external forces is shaping up the unfolding events in Syria.
The picture gets more perplexing when the flow of information is curtailed and expelling of journalists is a common tactic. The main fright in Damascus, whether anti or pro government, is if the Muslim Brotherhood was to take precedence in the governing sphere. Given the volatile history between the Muslim Brotherhood and the general restrictive operation of Sunni Islam under the Assad dynasty, this alarm is substantiated. The lack of transparency and ongoing complexity of the turmoil make the mood eerie and paranoid, as there is a major lack in defining or understanding the events in Syria. Everyone hears various opinions or facts about the unrest, “it leaves everyone conscious that they are manipulated and part of a massive propaganda machine”, as one humble Syrian citizen said.
Comments (109)
why-discuss said:
It is definitely a war where media plays an immense role. Both opponents seem to be using it so efficiently that the reality is blurred.
Yet as long as Damascus is solidly on the side of the present government, I see a bleak future for the opposition unless they show they are ready for dialog and not for a regime change. Of course they’ll need guarantees that they will not be charged for treason. This support can only come from a country like Turkey as I don’t believe any one trusts an arab country to be impartial.
I hope the opposition realize the fate they’ll have if their uprising falls flat.
April 19th, 2011, 8:14 pm
Shami said:
WHY,you will be surprised by Damascus.
It’s the city in which you can find the biggest number of anti-Asad in Syria(even those damascenes who work for the government).In fact ,Damascus is the eternal sister of Homs(as Aleppo is for Hama).There is in fact a lot of hypocrisy ,but in the end ,the true faces will be unveiled.
And btw,the government is one thing and the regime is an other.
Other spot,the friend of Dr Landis says:
On the 16th of April, yet again many Damascenes gathered outside Al-Jazeera news stations offices in Damascus and claimed these media corporations are creating sedition and subversion about the events in Syria.
Many Damascenes? they were few according to the photos and why does he underline : damascenes ?
April 19th, 2011, 8:30 pm
Shami said:
Other strange extract:
A Syrian local said “I hope 500 die or even 1,000, how dare they challenge our country and be a victim of these plots to demonize Arabs”
The shabiha look so lovely compared to this local !
April 19th, 2011, 8:44 pm
Ryad tulaimaat said:
Yes the regime is corrupt,and yes the security forces are brutal,but can anybody with a straight face deny the obvious : the demonstrators are being infiltrated by thugs and terrorists,that is why Homs suffered tremendous destruction in the last 3 days.
No country should allow armed gangs to spread terror and chaos,and this include both Shabiha and antigovernment criminals. We need uniformed security officers and the regular army to protect us from both.enough blood shed and enough destruction.most of my non Syrian friends are asking how Syrians can trust these groups if the regime is toppled. Syrians showed the world that they are brave but some Syrians broadcasted our third world status to a mostly unsympathetic audience. Good luck seeing any foreign money or tourism coming to Syria any time soon. I hope democracy and freedom banners can feed the hungry or bring jobs to the unemployed.
April 19th, 2011, 8:44 pm
SOURI said:
This is worrisome:
http://www.alwatan.sy/dindex.php?idn=99786
If Assad has really decided to open up, then we need strict and firm guarantees that the freedom of speech and other social freedoms will not be compromised in anyway in Syria.
Many Syrians fear an open political process in Syria because they have real and serious fears that such a political process will give the Islamists more influence and thus it will undermine the social freedoms we currently have in Syria.
The writer of the article insists that no Islamist parties will be allowed. This is good but it is not enough. In Mubarak’s Egypt Islamist parties were also banned, but this did not prevent the Islamists from dominating the Egyptian society and enforcing a very repressive culture on the Egyptians. Trying people for something they said was and is still commonplace in Egypt. The Islamists in Egypt will take you to court if you say anything that is “against Islam” and the Egyptian legal system will try you and punish you if they find you “guilty.” What are the grantees that we won’t have the same situation in Syria?
What if a freely elected Syrian parliament makes a law to impose restrictions on books, magazines, websites, etc. that are “against Islam”? This can easily happen. Right now there are already some restrictions, but if the Islamists gain more influence the restrictions will increase significantly.
Bashar Assad must add a new article to the constitution guaranteeing the absolute freedom of speech. Applying “democracy” without firm guarantees about the freedom of speech is a very bad idea.
Bashar is making all these concessions now, so he must take something from the Islamists in exchange. We need to amend the constitution to add a clause that protects the freedom of speech, and we also need to remove the sectarianist third article from the constitution.
Actually the Syrian constitution needs to be rewritten completely. The first article of the constitution talks about the Union of Arab Republics, which no longer exists. Also the constitution talks about socialism in most of its articles, and Syria now is no longer socialist. Will Bashar write a new constitution? Now is a very good time to write a new constitution while the regime still has a solid grip on the state. Bashar must write a new secular constitution and make people vote on it now while he still can make it pass. If we wait until the Islamists have more influence, it will be impossible to pass a secular constitution that guarantees the freedom of speech.
April 19th, 2011, 8:55 pm
Husam horani said:
A month passed and Damascus and Aleppo are largely silent. This means a lot. The regime will build on this and I hope that we see positive and meaningful measures by the government to build trust. At the top is article 8 in the constitution and real investigations that target all criminals from both sides. I want deep changes in the security leadership and the removal of many figures that hurt Bashar and the country including his top aides and a crackdown on Shabiha. The only way to keep Damascus and Aleppo on Bashar’s side is to enforce security and end albaath and mukhabarat unchecked authority.
Give us one relatively calm Friday and few good measures by the regime and let us breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Syrian blood was not lost for nothing. Freedom comes with responsibility or it is not freedom,it is chaos and ?????..
April 19th, 2011, 8:57 pm
SOURI said:
Assad must understand that the only way to overcome Islamism is via the free expression and exchange of ideas. If you open up politically and you do not open up culturally and allow for complete freedom of speech, the country will become totally Islamist, and the Alawis will be the biggest losers. If Assad really cares about his Baath party and about his Alawi community, he must fight hard now to ensure that the new Syria will be both secular and FREE country. Secularism without freedom of speech will not prevent the Islamists from taking over the country.
Of course, it would have been much better if we opened up later after the education levels improve in Syria, but it seems that Assad has no choice but to open up now and risk major turmoil and violence in Syria.
April 19th, 2011, 9:09 pm
why-discuss said:
Shami
In my conversations with Syrians, I always felt that people in Damascus did not have much admiration for the people of Homs. You surprised me with your assertion.
SOURI
Some suggestions for a constitution update:
– (Like in France and in US) Any public attack based on religion or ethnicity is against the law, it is called hate crime ( see what happened to Galliano at Christian Dior)
– Political party with a single religion affiliation should not be allowed in the parlement.
There is a lot to do to allow freedom without allowing another authoritarian regime, this time using religion to take over the country
April 19th, 2011, 9:12 pm
Revlon said:
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3 hours ago
April 19th, 2011, 9:14 pm
jad said:
A touching poem by the Syrian Oumar Alfarra about the homeland, I’m sure many heard it before but it’s a unique piece of beauty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0VbYJ08THg
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April 19th, 2011, 9:18 pm
Mina said:
Before another revolution calls for Western help, i hope they’ll read this excellent paper
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/world/africa/20benghazi.html
(especially page 2, with the self-proclaimed general who came back from exile in the US and decided to install his headquarters at the oil company in Benghazi.)
April 19th, 2011, 9:20 pm
SOURI said:
A constitutional article that guarantees public freedoms will be a very powerful tool in the hands of Bashar to shoot down many repressive Islamist laws.
I am 100% sure that an Islamist dominated parliament will make a law that, for example, prevents ALL people from eating and drinking in the days of the fasting month of Ramadan. This means that Christians in Aleppo and Alawis in Latakia will be forced to observe the fasting in Ramadan. How would Bashar act in such a situation? If we had a constitutional article that guarantees public freedoms, the Islamist law can be easily shot down in the constitutional court. The Islamists will have nothing to do.
April 19th, 2011, 9:26 pm
SOURI said:
Great article, will it be heard by the new government?
http://www.alwatan.sy/dindex.php?idn=99656
April 19th, 2011, 9:36 pm
syau said:
Souri,
I understand you point and think it is a good one.
What I dont understand is you suggesting that the Alawi do not fast in the holy month of Ramadan, because from what I know, they do, and, if you are stating that a small amount of them dont, then you need to make that clear and not generalise. I also believe that many Sunni and Shiite muslims are unable to fast at various times during Ramadan. Ones who are unwell for example, need to take medication and are unable to fast. That would be naming one example in many.
Otherwise, I think you have a very good point and the thought of an Islamist run country anywhere will be a country where there is a permanent tape over the mouths of the people including those who are not muslim.
April 19th, 2011, 9:37 pm
why-discuss said:
MINA
I doubt the west will be responsive to any call for help from the opposition. Obviously after a month of excitment, the complexity of the situation has now tempered the mood of previously empathic foreign countries: The rumours of infiltration by islamists foreign elements into the game, the apologetic attitude of the US about the funds they gave to Barada TV and others, the official support of Lebanon to Bashar al Assad, Damascus reluctancy to openly join the opposition, the absence of mass protesters and other.
Unless the opposition becomes the victim of a spectacular and very bloody massacre reported in the media or if they receive immediately some kind of high level political or military help, they are bound to loose the war and go underground
France? Britain? the US? They are all busy with the Libyan military intervention’s fiasco as mentioned in the article. Saudi Arabia is busy with Bahrain. Qatar has discredited itself by moving from neutrality to military complicity in Libya. The opposition is politically isolated…
April 19th, 2011, 10:02 pm
SOURI said:
The Islamists in Latakia (and other cities in that region) always complain about the fact that Alawis do not observe the fast. This is what they say.
One of the main reasons why conservative Sunnis hate the Alawis so much is that the Alawis do not fast, pray, or cover their women’s heads. It is true that the Alawi religion calls for prayer and fasting, but in reality most Alawis do not pray or fast. Many educated Alawis are not religious at all, and the regular Alawis have a very laid-back position on religion.
Rural people all have a laid-back position on religion, and the Alawis more than anybody else are not religious enthusiasts. This is a fact. Urban mid-class Sunnis are brought up to strictly observe the fasting and prayers, unlike the Alawis who are not taught to strictly observe these duties. There is a cultural difference here that has to do with the environment and historical isolation more than it has to do with religion itself, since that the Alawi religion is an offshoot of the typical Islam.
April 19th, 2011, 10:10 pm
Shami said:
Dr Landis ,you became a super star for the syrian tv.
April 19th, 2011, 10:11 pm
jad said:
Why the revolution organizers don’t form some kind of council that is responsible for negotiating instead of them, after more than month of protests, stuck with the faceless FB page and only giving orders, they need to have a trustworthy face that speaks to Syrians if they want to be supported, being this much vague is harming their cause.
If they are as independent and as secular as they claim, then there is no other way but to talk to people through some faces not ghosts, the majority of Syrians are not internet savvy, they are human, they need to see and talk to someone they trust.
April 19th, 2011, 10:19 pm
Shami said:
Jad ,here is the problem ,there must be places for the opposition to operate,to meet with the people ,they should be allowed to launch their media,newspapers inside Syria ,to criticize Bashar without risking amn suppression,this the condition in order to make the new faces to appear.
April 19th, 2011, 10:46 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
500 ?? 1000 ?? Why not make it 20,000 or 30,000 .. just like in those nice old days…
If I can summarize this long long post, Syria Tishrin Comment.
.
April 19th, 2011, 10:52 pm
Shami said:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/217466_142403782495691_131596696909733_228707_6530950_n.jpg?dl=1
April 19th, 2011, 10:57 pm
jad said:
Dr. Ghalyoun is fantasizing and talking too much unrealistic ideas. the government didn’t put any anti terrorism law to replace the emergency law. couple month ago he was writing article after the other to remove the emergency law and when they did he doesn’t care?! That what tick me off from those unrealistic dreamers.
There is no country in the whole world get into democracy in one month…come on!
Give those solutions time to be materialized, there is no needs for more blood and to destroy the country.
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April 19th, 2011, 11:01 pm
majedkhaldoon said:
The demonstration laws is a substitue to Emergency law,basically,it is to prevent demonstrations, this is what the regime wants,it is a continuation of suppression and opression by the regime,still no freedom.
April 19th, 2011, 11:34 pm
Australian- Syrian said:
#14, SOURI,
I know for a fact that Alawis DO fast during the Holy month. How, because yes, i am an Alawi, and 99% of my friends are Alawi. And they all fast. The only time we do not fast is if we are unwell, or of course, a woman is pregnant, or something else… Then do we make up for the days we have lost. Before Ramadan starts the next year, we begin. If i have missed out on 1 week of fasting, i will begin 1 week before Ramadan. Some people, even when they do not miss out, start early anyway. We pray as much as the next Muslim. My father prays every prayer. My brothers pray every prayer. My uncles pray every prayer. My mother, my aunties, my female cousins, pray every prayer. I am an educated Alawi, and i NEVER, miss out on prayer. I ALWAYS fast. I always give to charity. Do you do that? Does any Sunni do that? Have you proof that they do? Have you proof that the Alawies do not?
PLEASE DO NOT GENERALISE. IT DOES NOT DO YOU ANY FAVOURS.
The Sunni are ones to talk. Who do they think they are? I know heaps of Sunni people whose women and daughters do not cover their heads. I know, for example, my best friend, whom i have known since i was 10, his mother, sister, cousins, aunites and so on do not wear the head scarf. My fathers close friend is also a Sunni. His family are just like my friend’s family. They do not wear the scarf. They are not the strict sunnis. Many Sunnis are not strict. I will not say that there are not some Alwis who are ‘laid back’ but i will also not say that ALL Sunnis are religion followers.
What is the point of wearing the head scarf, if you are going to dirty it by your actions? What is the point of praying if you are going to sin? What is the point of fasting if you are going to blasphemy? Please answer me. I have been to primary school. High school. University. And have encountered many Sunnis who are all that i have described. And i have met some who are the best people i have ever met. You will find people like that in any religion. BUT DO NOT GENERALISE. DO NOT.
April 19th, 2011, 11:38 pm
Shami said:
Yes to get democracy needs time and also will ,two muslim countries succeded to reach a decent democratic level in few times because there was an honest decision taken unilateraly from those who ruled as dictators who initiated a democratic transition.(Malaysia (2003)and Turkey late 80’s)
Jad ,do you think that Asad family is ready to give up its privilege voluntarely for the sake of such transition which is necessary condition in order to reach democracy ?
April 19th, 2011, 11:43 pm
syau said:
Souri,
I agree with you that the Sunni perception of the Alawi is that they might not prey or fast. But that is there perception and not fact.
I agree with you that the Alawi religion calls for fast and prayer, as it is a muslim religion, but, I dont agree with you that they do not comply with this. While Alawi women do not wear the traditional headscarf, the elder generation do cover their heads using a mandeel. That is nothing to be ashamed of as you do not need to cover yourself to be true to your religion.
As for the Alawi being laid back on religion, and, the “educated” Alawi not being religious at all, that is totally untrue.
There are many muslims practising religion “openly”, but, that does not mean the adhere to the true meaning of Islam.
So Souri, I will say to you again, please do not make generalisations. Although as you say they are hated by the Sunni for not openly practising Islam as they do, that does not mean they are not religious or true muslims.
Australian Syrian, Excellent point.
April 19th, 2011, 11:50 pm
Vedat The Turk said:
@Josh Landis
I would like to try and explain the contradictions you raised in today’s post between the pro-Bashar spirit in Damascus and the continued protest in the rest of the country.
The problem with any pro regime demonstrations in Syria is that these demonstrations have been staged so many times in the past that everyone has come to view them as fake. It’s as if the populace has become conditioned to immediately view any positive message about the regime as yet another lie. This has become particularly true in the Middle East with the explosion of satellite TV / twitter / you tube etc.
It’s no different when it comes to the international press. Any government that claims broad popular support while limiting political freedom is viewed with great suspicion. This makes sense when you think about it. Why would any government limit political expression in the first place if their broad popular support was genuine?
This is the curse the Baathist regime in Damascus finds itself in. Any possible message it tries to convey is immediately labeled as untrue based on its past reputation for untruthfulness – regardless of how true the message really is. Think of it as the “boy who cried wolf” too many times. There comes a time when know one believes him.
The real problem that Bashar Assad finds himself in is that his speeches in the last few weeks have had absolutely no effect on what is going on in the streets. Every time he goes on television and makes yet another proclamation with no concrete results makes him look inept and ineffective particularly to those in the upper echelons of the regime that have the most to loose.
Its been my observation that when those in power begin to feel personally threatened by a popular revolt, that they too begin to view the central leader as part of the problem. This goes for even the most loyal followers of the regime. Just look at Egypt where Mubaraks most loyal supporters in the army began to turn on him as he began to loose control of events. Ditto in Tunisia. Even in Libya the same thing can be seen.
This is the real threat to Bashars continued rule! As he continues to be viewed as less and less effective while those around him begin to feel more threatened, the chances of a coup becomes very real. There may be those who would counter that the regime has foreseen such a scenario and placed only loyal Alawites in position of power. According to this logic the Alawites would be less likely to turn on Bashar because he would be their one hope at survival. I would counter however that for many of the Alawites in power the thought of sacrificing Bashar in order to save the broader community would be too tempting – especially since he is viewed as unable to maintain control. They would argue to themselves better to throw him overboard and take a chance rather than to keep him aboard and face certain defeat.
Would appreciate any thoughts you may have on this.
April 19th, 2011, 11:52 pm
jad said:
Shami,
Please explain what do you mean with ‘Asad family’ then I’ll answer.
April 20th, 2011, 12:01 am
why-discuss said:
Shami
Please read the history before coming up with your ridiculoua advices:
It took more than 40 years for Turkey to achieve a democracy ( from 1923 to 1950 to get multiple parties, and to 61 after military intervention to get a new constitution…. So be generous, please give a few years to Syria!!!
http://www.turkeyexplorers.com/tours/brief_history_turkish_politics.html
…The Republic removed these constraints and modernised the economic and social structure or Turkey. The Ottoman culture was dominated by Islamic and oriental values, the Republic introduced the western concepts or democracy, human rights, women’s rights and the responsibility or the state in the fields of education and health. The years from 1923 to 1946 marked a period at institutional, political and cultural preparation for democracy . It was a time of radical changes in legislation, in education and in the administrative structure of the state. The Second World War briefly interrupted this political evolution but, once the over, national elections were held for the first time in 1946. In 1950, the voters elected an opposition party and the Government changed hands, thus ending the one-party system .
The history of democracy in Turkey has not been without its ups and downs. Democracy is a process that needs time to take root and function smoothly. The first decade after 1950 was marked by violent antagonism between political parties and popular unrest. This led the way to a military intervention which suspended democracy for one year. The process restarted in 1961 hut not without difficulties and crises. The political confrontation was aggravated by social confrontations and. the emergence of radical groups who resorted to violence. A new military intervention took place in 1980. In 1982 after a new constitution was adopted by referendum, elections were held and resulted, in the victory of a centre party advocating economic liberalism
April 20th, 2011, 12:03 am
majedkhaldoon said:
Shami
Rule # 91 has to change,no body should be above the law
April 20th, 2011, 12:04 am
Shami said:
Why,Syria and Turkey had similar history regarding their democratic past ,as turkey we also had our past democratic experiences that were both disturbed by several military coups,this a very comparable history to Syria but unlike us ,they did not had the equivalent of a dictator à la Asad.
The first true democratic election in Turkey Happened in 1950(stopped in 1960 ,year of the execution of Adnan Menderes),other elections 65 (Demirel ended with a coup) and in the 70’s (coallition between Erbakan and Ecevit prior to the invasion of North Cyprus,stopped in 1980 military coup).
Syria had experencied democracy even before Turkey in 1936(under french mandate) and it lasted until 1949(zaim coup)then we experienced other democratic periods in the 50’s stopped by Shishakli then Naser coup in 1958,the last democratic rule was between 1961-1963(stopped by the baath coup).
General Kenan Evren(who did 1980 coup) ,left power in 1989.( he opened the door to the transition ,with Ozal as his PM ,elected in 1983)
Since then ,Turkey definetely entered the democratic era.
April 20th, 2011, 12:34 am
why-discuss said:
Vedat the Turk
I don’t perceive Bashar al Assad as a liability for other Alawites.
In my view he has acted very cautiously. When he did not deliver much in his first speech everyone said he should have. When he did in his second speech that everybody loved but had no impact, some said the cliche “Too little , too late”. I think Bashar showed assurance in delivering only at his own pace and not under pressure. He also did very well in using the blunders of the ‘free TVs’ to blur the situation where no one knows anymore who is lying or who is telling the truth. At first many Syrians preferred to watch ‘free tv’ but they realized the abuses, the false news, the fake videos that the supposed ‘free’ TVs were spreading many syrians returned to the national TV they trust more. Al Jazeera, BBC and Dunia were totally discredited by reporting events without verification or disclaimer. They are now.. a little too late. These mistakes served well the government in changing the thoughts and the focus of the syrians and the international community, weary of an islamist take over.
Overall I think the medias in the case of Syria have not helped the opposition. Saturated with the thousands of Youtube videos, many syrians have returned to their everyday reality.
The foreign countries are no more inclined to support a movement infiltrated by islamists and disapproved by all the Arabic neighbors, therefore the opposition is politically isolated and have not gathered a large enough mass to become a real movement and has no leadership. In addition Bashar is still popular, the army and the police are still strong and united despite rumors of rebellion that were quickly dismissed..
So, there is no doubt in my mind that the Alawites, the christians, the druze, the kurds and the Sunni bazaris are supporting Bashar.
Overall I think Bashar has played very well his cards in very tough circumstances. I think the opposition is now in a dire situation, unless some spectacular events bring back the attention of the foreign countries that are totally embazled in the fiasco of the Libyan revolution.
April 20th, 2011, 12:36 am
Revlon said:
#20 Dear Jad, Thank for your copied posting.
???? ???? ??????? ???? ????? : ???? ????????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? .. ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???????
???????? – 20 ????? – 2011 – 0:05:34
??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????????
Sources of the regime are not reliable any more; Aunty Sha3ban and Shara3 are supposed to be as highly iformed scources as one can get.
They were proven to be so badly informed, after Jr’s Speech I.
Earlier talks were about replacing the EL with US-Western style antiterrosism laws. Neither of Jr Speeches made any reference to the contrary.
I am eager to read the signed, concerned “Marsoom”
Details are more impotant than titles.
Please keep us in the loop!
Cheers!
April 20th, 2011, 12:41 am
Revlon said:
National unity demonstrations last night
April 19th Night, Madaya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyci6vcAzcw&feature=player_embedded
April 19th Night, Jable
April 20th, 2011, 1:01 am
Revlon said:
???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? Youth Syria For Freedom
??? : ??? : ?? ???? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ? ???? ?????? ????? …
6 hours ago ·
April 20th, 2011, 1:02 am
Revlon said:
???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? Youth Syria For Freedom
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???? ????? – ???? ?? ??? ????? – ?? ?????? ?????
???? ?????- ???? ?? ??? ?????- ????
::::: ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ? ????????? ????????? :::::
6 hours ago
April 20th, 2011, 1:04 am
Revlon said:
??? – ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??? – ????? ???
April 20th, 2011, 1:09 am
SOURI said:
Australian- Syrian,
Well, this controversy has been going on for more than 70 years now, and perhaps even for centuries. Whenever the issue of fasting and praying is raised the Sunnis will say that the Alawis do not fast and pray, and the Alawis will get angry and say they fast and pray as much as the Sunnis.
I honestly do not know the truth, but I know that most Sunnis believe that Alawis do not fast and pray, except perhaps for the sheiks. Maybe the Alawis have started now getting religious, I don’t know.
The reason why Sunnis traditionally hated the Alawis and considered them heretics is more complicated than the issue of praying and fasting.
April 20th, 2011, 1:14 am
Australian -Syrian said:
Souri,
I know that the hate between the two sects is more than just about fasting. I know. But what i dont get is that why would the Sunnis want to cover up for themselves. They are heretics. Is it not true, that when someone does something and wants to get away with it they blame the ‘little guy’? Well, that is what they do. Dont get me wrong, i am not saying that all Sunnis are like that. Because i know that heaps of them respect and love Alawis for who and what they are. And vise versa. Alawis have always been religious. Not all of course, again i will not generalise. But they have. Unless that is just my family, extended family, friends, friends of friends…I dont know. But what is disgusting is the fact that Sunnis still have a deep hatred for Alawis. It is disgraceful. We are all Muslim. Who cares about who fasts, who doesnt fast, who prays, who doesnt pray. We all belive in the same God, and that’s that. They should get over it. This has always been a sensitive issue, and will always remain so.
April 20th, 2011, 2:28 am
Revlon said:
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http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FF07F5C9-ED1A-4087-B73D-BCD83C82EB34.htm?GoogleStatID=1
April 20th, 2011, 3:19 am
Revlon said:
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????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? “??? ?????? ??????”? ????? ??? ??? ???? “???? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?????”.
???? ??????? ???? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ?? “????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????”.
???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????? “?? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ????”.
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??? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? “???? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????????? ????????”.
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http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A959313E-42D1-448F-B09A-EB24BACFFCC9.htm?GoogleStatID=9
April 20th, 2011, 3:33 am
SOURI said:
Way to go May Akl:
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/19/why_the_syrian_case_is_different
A brave article. It will make many people angry.
April 20th, 2011, 3:44 am
SOURI said:
In my opinion, the main reason for why Sunnis hated the Alawis was social rather than religious.
I did read some relatively old texts from the 1930’s-1940’s (and also from the early Baath period in the 1960’s-1970’s) about how Sunnis viewed the Alawis. What was obvious to me from those texts that the Sunnis hated the Alawis mostly for such things as being “savages,” “monsters,” “ignorant,” “dirty,” etc. The “godlessness” quality of the Alawis was just a natural complement that explained those bad social traits.
Even now, when you listen to Syrian Muslim Brothers and Wahhabis you will find that they tend to describe the Alawis by social derogatory terms rather than religious ones. They will often make fun of the Alawis for being ignorant peasants etc. They rarely talk about the Alawi religion itself other than dismissing it for being a heresy.
People always hate isolated groups. The Jews were hated in Europe because they were isolated and they had a distinctive culture of their own. People hate those who are different from them. The Alawis lived in long isolation, and the Sunnis only knew them as the heretical monsters who inhabit the mountains. The details of the Alawi religion had very little to do with why the Sunnis hated the Alawis. In fact, many of the blasphemous heresies commonly ascribed to the Alawis may have been made up by the Sunnis themselves to justify their hatred of the Alawis. This is very common in such situations.
April 20th, 2011, 4:15 am
Australian -Syrian said:
Youssef al-Qaradawi one fantastic Sheik!! Which man of God would ever, ever, promote the killing of a person? Which man of Go would every want to separate the Muslim community? Huh? Which man of God? He calls himself a sheik, well that gives a false impression of what a sheik really is. And the Muslim Brotherhood. More like the Moronic Butholes. That suits them more.They blacken the names Muslim and Brotherhood. The Ker-riri, (and yes, i do mean KERR) I dont even want to go there.
Like i said, if only all Lebanese people were like Sleiman Frangieh. And there was no Hariri, sorry, i meant Ker-riri.
God protect Bashar al Assad.
April 20th, 2011, 4:35 am
Mina said:
Thanks Souri #39 for the link. Another reason why people are not in the streets is that compared to the income of their parents, people are far better off now than 50 years ago. Some epidemies have been eradicated too, and the sanitary situation is slowly improving in some remote parts of the country. Then if people spend all their money on cell phone credit, that’s another issue.
April 20th, 2011, 4:36 am
Revlon said:
???????? 16/5/1432 ?? – ??????? 19/4/2011 ?
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http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7F21C186-A13C-4A00-A884-99721D3B7B94.htm?GoogleStatID=24
April 20th, 2011, 4:43 am
Australian -Syrian said:
SOURI,
You should start looking at better information. Look at the main reason why the Sunnis hate the Alwis. The Sunnins have long hated the Alawis because Alawis do not discriminate. Alawis accept people for who they are. Alawis respect people for who they are. Sunnis do not. Sunnis are a racist bunch. Take a look at that pathetic sheik, Youssef al-Qaradawi. He said that he admires Hitler! ADMIRES HITLER!! Which decent person, let alone a man of God, would admire a monster?!!! They are the monsters! All those Sunni people who are as disgraceful and grotesque as that sheik are the monsters.
The Alawi race is more accepting and rational compared to the Sunni race. Dont let that propaganda crap that you are reading form your judgements. Dont let the lies and filth cloud your rationality.
All those Sunnis who attacked, murdered, mauled, defaced, decapitated, humiliated and so on, all those Alawi people, are the monsters.They are the savages. They are ignorant. They are dirty. And when i say dirty, i mean the dirtiest if their kind!!!
Just because the Alawis are different and do not express their religion for the world to know, then the Sunnis portray them negatively. God did not make them and them alone! God made us all. If i was to say that i hate Sunnis and that they are dirty scum bags, then i will be repremanded by my own father. He will tell me that is wrong, and we are all one. But if a Sunni was to say the same, his father will say, “well done. keep swearing. they are good for nothing”. I have a resolution. Teach all the Alawis to hate, degrade and spit on all Sunnis! But that will never work, because they are the best people of their kind. Alawis are non-discriminative. They do not separate between people and their religion. They cannot hate.
Go ahead, Souri, and look at the REAL reasons why Sunnis hate the Alawis. Please go. And do not come back with that same filth, because it is untrue. I cannot say whether you agree with what you said, but i can say that you have not researched adequately. You are right in your last statement. The Sunnis made up all those lies to justify their hatred.
April 20th, 2011, 4:58 am
syau said:
Souri,
#41 – This is a little more true to the actual. Although, in you previous comments (#14) there was much I did not agree with you on.
If the Sunni perception of the Alawi is that they dont pray or fast, that is just their perception and not actual fact.
The Alawi religion, as it is a muslim religion does in fact call for prayer and fasting during Ramadan, and people of the Alawi religion do comply with this, again another misconception by the sunni. Althoough not all Alawi women wear the traditional headscarf, mostly the elders do, although not the traditional wear, they wear a mandeel. I believe that is perfectly fine as you do not to be covered to be true to your religious affiliation. All Alawi hold their religion in high regard, those who are educated, and, those who are not.
The religion of Islam is one of peace, sadly, not all muslims adhere to the religion. Islam was never about extremism.
Unfortunately, as you said, this debate has been going on for centuries, but whether the Alawi are regarded by Sunni as muslim, hated by them or not, they are muslims and do practise their religion as any true muslim would.
April 20th, 2011, 5:24 am
syau said:
Australian Syrian,
Alot of what Souri has said is correct. Many of the old text books relating to the way sunni viewed Alawi do state the comments made by souri, I will say though, that they are misconceptions and do not describe the Alawi, I thought your description was spot on.
Although you are correct in saying that Quaradawi admires a monster like Hitler, he also promotes hatred amongst different sects. He sanctions exections of certain leaders and is affiliated with the MB, but, very few sunni are like him. He is as extreme as they come.
It seems as though this topic is one of high emotion for you, but, I say do what the Alawi’s have been doing for centuries and not care how anyone perceives them, because, as you stated, the Alawi are not capable of hating, calling for jihad and using it in the wrong context, sanctioning execution style murders and mutilating corpses. The Alawi including other denominations, as Islam calls for, stand for peace.
April 20th, 2011, 5:50 am
Revlon said:
Women poetry of the Revolution; Dar3a, Al7rak
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6kZLNsQaQg8
Uploaded by horankarama on Apr 19, 2011
April 20th, 2011, 6:09 am
Off the Wall said:
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18/?????/2011
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?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????????. ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???????. ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????.
???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????. ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????? ???????????? ??????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ????????.
?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????. ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????????. ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????????.
April 20th, 2011, 6:12 am
syau said:
Souri, #49,
Thankyou for that article, it was quite interesting.
I don’t see how anyone, let alone the US will see Quaradawi as a “reformist” or a “freedom fighter”. In Quarradawi case, i think One mans freedom fighter, is another mans terrorist.
April 20th, 2011, 6:19 am
Revlon said:
Not for the faint hearted. Dar3a Martyr Mohammad Radwan Quman!
Marks of torture and electrecution on his body.
Lest his suffering and cause be forgotten!
Al Fati7a upon his soul.
may God bless his family with solace and empower them with patience.
???? ?????? ???? ????? ?????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbu-4eMGXvs&feature=related
Uploaded by horankarama on Apr 18, 2011
April 20th, 2011, 6:19 am
Revlon said:
Soldier Martyr Mohammad Radwan Quman refused orders from his superiors in the republican guards to fire at civilians in Baniyas. The result was torture until death, including electrocution. Link to video clip of his body in post # 50
Here is an account of what happened by a relative:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf0tL9YC_pE&feature=related
Uploaded by fnnsyria on Apr 17, 2011
April 20th, 2011, 6:31 am
Australian-Syrian said:
SYAU,
You are right. And like you said,i should ignore it and turn the other cheek.
On another note. We just got a call from my aunty in Tartous. She said that at night they fear leaving their homes as Sunnis from the Hamidieh (not sure if i spelt that right) area outside Tartous are attacking them. She said that the young men of Tartous are standing guard outside at night to protect their people. The streets are secluded. People fear for their lives. However, lucky for the people of Tartous, their young protectors have been catching the evil buckets of mucus before they do too much damage. Allah Ye7meeon. Allah Ye7me shabab Tartous. Allah Ye7me sha3ab Tartous. Ameen.
April 20th, 2011, 6:33 am
syau said:
Revlon,
Lets not exaggerate the truth now shall we.
I believe if you search the youtube sights correctly, it would be proven to you that your clip is one that is, another fake.
April 20th, 2011, 6:51 am
Syau said:
Australian Syrian,
That is very sad and worrying to hear. May God protect them and keep them safe and healthy.
Hopefully they will be caught soon and this nonsense can be halted.
I believe the Syrian government will not let this terrorising continue for long. They will catch all the terrorists and traitors and finally put an end to all this destabalisation.
April 20th, 2011, 7:06 am
Souri said:
Australian -Syrian,
There is no need to get so emotional. I was not expressing my own opinions on the Alawis.
People have changed now. Many Sunnis do not think of the Alawis as their fathers did. Only the extreme Islamists still hold the traditional racist views, but most Sunnis now are less sectarianist than were their fathers.
This mutual hatred and prejudice is common in all places where different communities live together. Syria is not an exception. In fact, we Syrians must always remember that we are the only country in this region that has never had a full-blown sectarian war. Look at Palestine and Lebanon and compare them to us. The Islamists in Syria tried many times to start a civil war, but they always failed because most Syrians (particularly Sunnis) did not go along with them. Even this current “revolution” has failed because most Sunnis have not supported it. So Syria is actually better than many other countries. The Syrian Sunnis are also better than other Sunnis, despite the ugly reality of MB and the Wahhabis in Syria.
There is no need to say an “Alawi race.” I don’t think the Alawis can in any way be called a different race from the Sunnis. The Alawis used to live in Aleppo, Latakia, Tripoli, etc and they fled to the mountains only during the crusades. So the Alawis did not land from sky but they originated from the same Syrian cities that had the Sunnis.
The crusades caused mush destruction in this region. Before the crusades, most people in Syria were Chrisitan, Alawi, or Shia. The Sunnis were a minority in Syria. The Sunnis became a majority during the Ayyubid and Mamluke wars against the Crusaders. Sick religious scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah tried to take advantage of the wars against the crusaders and they convinced the Mamluke rulers to exterminate the Shia and the Alawis. Many of the racist prejudices that Sunnis hold on the Alawis were invented by this mentally sick scholar.
April 20th, 2011, 7:21 am
N.Z. said:
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????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????. ???? ??????? ????????? ??? ??: “???? ??? ??? ????? ?????”!? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??????. ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????! ?????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ????????????. ????? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ????????. ??????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????. ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ??????. ??????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????. ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?????. ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?? ????.
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??? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????. ????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ???????.
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April 20th, 2011, 7:38 am
syau said:
Souri, #55,
Perfectly stated.
April 20th, 2011, 7:50 am
N.Z. said:
?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??????. ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????????. ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????. ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ?????. ?? ?? ????? ??????. ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????.
??? ????? ?????? 67? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????????! ???? ??? ??? ‘???????’. ?? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ????????.
????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????. ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????.
??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ????????.
?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????:
‘?? ??????? ???? ???? ??????
????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????
???? ????? ????????? ?? ?????
????? ?????? ?????? ??????
??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????
???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????’
April 20th, 2011, 7:55 am
Australian-Syrian said:
Souri,
thankyou for what you have said. I may have gotten a bit upset, as what was said was enogh to upset anyone. I did not insinuate that you belive all that you said. I apologise if i made it out as so. I said that i cannot say that you do belive in it. Judging by comment i can see that you do not. And you stated your point excellently and it was apleasure to read it.
April 20th, 2011, 8:08 am
Sophia said:
To those who are cheering the end of El-Assad, they have to remember the US sponsored cedar revolution in Lebanon and how it failed. The mosaics of both countries needs either a dictatorship or a consensus between the different communities for stability. Otherwise it is instability or civil war.
Read this analysis by Georges Corm on Lebanon (in French). It applies also to Syria.
http://www.iris-france.org/docs/pdf/forum/2008_01_14_statut-liban.pdf
April 20th, 2011, 8:46 am
Fadi said:
We love you Bashar Assad. May god give you the wisdom and strength to overcome the current unrest. We all behind you.Please keep us safe. Protect us from evil. God, angels, and most free loving Syrian people from all sectors are at your side
We miss; the great lion of Syria “Hafez Assad”. We mis you very much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF1ZudKrkoU&feature=player_embedded
H-Assad final sentence ‘our destiny is to build a better future for our countries, a safe future (for) our children. We have to give them something better than what we inherited.’
April 20th, 2011, 8:52 am
Revlon said:
The case of martyr Mohammad Radwan Quman highlights the following:
First; Stories of mutiny have been substantiated.
Second; The allegiance of Armed forces, including the supposedly loyal Republican Guards to the Regime, in their confrontation with unarmed rising public, is precarious at best. It does not apply to the filed forces of ranks and files, who belong to the numerical majority of the Syrian people.
Third; The threat of wider mutiny, may explain the quantitatively and qualitatively limited involvement of Army in the current confrontation.
Fourth, videos of tortured bodies amount to valuable evidence for future prosectution for state and Republican Guard sponsored, torture and murder of Syrian citizens.
April 20th, 2011, 9:01 am
syau said:
Fadi,
That was beautiful and I second your sentiments exactly.
The Late Hafez Assad, peace be upon his soul. A GREAT LEADER
President Bashar Assad, May God protect him and elevate him above all his enemies, may he continue to govern the great country of Syria into continuous prosperity. YET ANOTHER GREAT LEADER.
April 20th, 2011, 9:10 am
Sophia said:
#42 Souri,
Excellent article by May Akl in Foreign Policy. Thanks for posting it.
April 20th, 2011, 9:10 am
syau said:
Revlon,
Many of the video’s you and the organisation you endorse, have been proven to be fake. It does not make sense to mutilate or degrade someone after they have died, unless ofcourse they would be affiliated with Islamist extremists as nothing is sacred to them.
On another note, videos of the excecuted and mutilated coloniel’s bodies have been shown. That is the work of the terrorists behind these uprisings. As we have witnessed, nothing is sacred to them.
That was the work of evil.
April 20th, 2011, 9:17 am
Australian-Syrian said:
Fadi, your words are touching and beautiful. May God protect Bashar and all his people. May Syria have its protector, Al Assad for years and years to come.
In Hama, there was a demonstration against Bashar. The security forces went there unarmed to protect the protesters from harm. Unawars the protesters began stabbing, throwing rocks and attacking the security, that was there to protect them. As they were unarmed, the poor soldiers had no defence. Not sure how many died, but i know that one was sliced accross the chest with a machettie. He died. Allah Yerhamu. Many were injured. Broken arms, broken legs…Allah sabron.
Just reported that the Kerriri is calling for groups in Lebanon to go into Syria and attack. Mr. Hariri-kerriri should not heat the situation. May he fail misserabley. Then get his head shoved in the dirt and stepped on.
April 20th, 2011, 9:24 am
syau said:
Australian Syrian,
Hariri can yap on all he likes, no one will listen to an illiterate who needs to stand behind a bullet proof glass panel for protection. Unless it’s there because he is so loved and supported, but I dont think that is the case. If indeed he did call for those attacks, then I think there might be legal ramifications for him. Hopefully I’m right.
April 20th, 2011, 9:30 am
Australian -Syrian said:
I misrote my comment, sorry. It was in Hamas.
April 20th, 2011, 9:38 am
syau said:
Sophia, #63,
Would you have a copy of that article translated into either English or Arabic? As I would very much like to read it.
April 20th, 2011, 9:42 am
syau said:
Australian Syrian,
Thanks for clarifying that. I didn’t think he would publicly call for uprisings in Syria, he would be aware of the ramifications of his actions.
April 20th, 2011, 9:46 am
Revlon said:
???? : ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ?????????
????????? ???? : ????? ?????? .. ?????? ???????…..
Homs, The Syrian Revolution 2011
16 minutes ago ·
April 20th, 2011, 9:46 am
Sophia said:
# Syau,
Unfortunately no. But you can resort to google translation or search articles in English by George Corm. The article is very fundamental, it explains the religious mosaics and the history of the country and their impact on today’s politics.
April 20th, 2011, 9:50 am
syau said:
Thankyou Sophia, I will possibly search for english articles by George Corm as you suggested.
April 20th, 2011, 9:59 am
Revlon said:
Taking down Asad clan posters, in preparation for free Syria.
Sheikh Miskin,
Uploaded by hmdan112 on Apr 19, 2011
April 20th, 2011, 10:00 am
Australian-Syrian said:
SYAU,
Once again i am sorry for misguiding you. I was actually referring to the incident which happened in Homs the defenceless soldies being attacked. I accidentally typed Hama, then Hamas rather than Homs!! It is very hard to type on a small keyboard on a mobile phone and get all your words spelt correctly!! I apologise once again. Please do not curse me!!!LOL.
April 20th, 2011, 10:05 am
syau said:
Revlon,
That is not in preparation for anything, it nothing but a discusting disregard for public property. It is also inhumane to destroy anything of someone that has passed on like that. But then again, it is comming from people affiliated with the Syrian revolution.
Another display of the absolute disrespectful and inhumane actions
that is the Syrian revolution. Imagine that being part of the governing of a country. Not a good thing to ponder in any country let alone Syria.
April 20th, 2011, 10:12 am
syau said:
Sophia,
Unfortunately I have had no luck in finding the article. I’ll keep trying though. Thanks anyway.
Australian,
Thanks for clarifying yet again.
Revlon, I forgot to mention that they dare to use Allah’s name during distruction. Allah’s great name is supposed to be used for good and during prayer not while destroying something. how holy they are.
April 20th, 2011, 10:15 am
Shami said:
http://books.google.com/books?id=WYO1BqdvX9EC&lpg=PA255&dq=nusayri&pg=PA412#v=onepage&q=taqiya&f=false
Australian and SYAU ,what do you think ?
I have read some academic works on the Nusayri/alawites ,i’m inclined to believe that your practical religiousity is a new evolution or it could be a dissimulation.
An other reason could be that the majority of the alawites now live in the cities ,it’s normal that they are influenced by their neighbors.
April 20th, 2011, 10:33 am
Souri said:
Interesting citation. Do you have information about the author?
To be honest, I knew secular Alawis at college who confessed to me that the Alawis do not practice the Sunni rituals. They also told me some horrible things about how the Alawis really view the Sunnis and their religion.
I don’t think “taqiyya” is justified anymore. To pretend that you pray just to deceive other people does not make sense to me. There is no need at this age to do such a thing.
April 20th, 2011, 10:57 am
Souri said:
Instead of “Sunnitizing” themselves, the Alawis should have become open like the Alevis of Turkey. The Alevis of Turkey are so relaxed that they even refuse to be called Muslims.
April 20th, 2011, 11:08 am
atassi said:
Assad …. ???????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7tFn0nvF2M&feature=youtu.be
killing of innocent people Homs..
April 20th, 2011, 11:11 am
Shami said:
Souri ,the author is an academic researcher of iraqi origin ,he is well versed.It’s one of the best books on the matter.
April 20th, 2011, 11:27 am
Shami said:
Souri,
The same is true for the Alawites in Turkey.They are still called nusayris because in turkish alevis =alawites which is a different shia heterodox community.
http://www.nusayriforum.com/
April 20th, 2011, 11:35 am
Souri said:
We are all familiar with “taqiyya” and why it was practiced. This was a way that the minorities protected themselves from persecution. Taqiyya was just a reaction to the lack of tolerance.
For an orthodox Sunni, it is upsetting to know that some sects curse the first three caliphs. However, knowing that those sects do this in secret while they pretend otherwise makes it only more upsetting. It is better at this age that everybody becomes open and that people learn to tolerate other religious views.
April 20th, 2011, 11:40 am
Souri said:
#85 SHAMI
I meant the Alevis. I know that the Nusayris of Turkey are not different from the Syrian ones. They are the same sect.
April 20th, 2011, 11:43 am
Nour said:
There are reports that the head of political security (al-amn al-siyasi) in Banyas has been detained. Has anyone else heard anything?
April 20th, 2011, 11:56 am
Souri said:
If Assad keeps deposing his security officers and detaining them he will either be deposed by them or they will become reluctant to quell the uprising, which means that he will also be deposed but by the protesters.
I wonder if the emergency state will really be lifted. Are the mukhabarat going to get a warrant for every arrest they make? And are they going to put to trial everyone they arrest? It does not make sense, especially in these circumstances.
April 20th, 2011, 12:08 pm
Nour said:
If security officers are overstepping their boundaries and committing acts of repression against civilians then they should be removed and arrested, otherwise President Assad’s reform mandate will ring hollow. Of course we should be sure that such reports are accurate, before making judgments but confronting armed groups and maintaining security should not have to include acts of repression and humiliation against normal citizens.
April 20th, 2011, 12:22 pm
jad said:
Nour,
http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?l=1&articleid=81331
??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ??????
(?? ???)
???? ????? ??????? ???????? 20/4/2011 ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ??????.
???? ???? “?????? ??????” ????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ????? “????? ???” ?? “??????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ??????”.
???? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ???????.
????? ????? ??????? ?? “??? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???????”.
??? ??? ????? “?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????”? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????????.
Another good news from Homs:
???????>>????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????
20 ????? , 2011
???-????
???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? 108 ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??????.
????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???????.
But the most disturbing note I read today is this one, also from Homs:
??? ????? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ? ??????? ?????? 100 ???
11 minutes ago
? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ( ?????? ??????? ) ??? 500 ??? ???? ? ??????? 100 ???
10 minutes ago
April 20th, 2011, 12:34 pm
Nour said:
Jad,
How can we know that these declarations from Homs are accurate or authentic? It seems to be a bit fishy that they would publicly announce such things.
April 20th, 2011, 12:40 pm
Vedat The Turk said:
@ Why Discuss
With all due respect, I am inclined to disagree with your analysis.
As the demonstrations spread, Bashar is running out of options. His attempts have reform have failed. The nations coffers have no excess surplus to try and buy the allegiance of the masses. The only thing left is the use of massive force.
I also disagree with you with regards to who the foreign nations support in this battle. For them Syria is viewed in the larger Iran vs. Arab regional battle. If pro-Iran Bashar were to be replaced by a pro Saudi regime it would be a critical blow to the Mullahs in Tehran (though no one in Riyadh dares to official say so).
You seem to imply in your post that if Bashar falls that his only replacement can be the Islamists. I disagree. I think that the other countries of the region do as well. The Islamists are not well organized and can easily be subverted / influenced by the regional Sunni powers like Jordan, Saudi Arabia etc. A more likely scenario is that these countries try to influence events on the ground so that whatever replaces the Assad dynasty will be anti-Iran. This can easily be done with a large infusion of cash and commitments of future support. Such monetary largess is not something Iran or its proxy Hezbollah could match.
April 20th, 2011, 12:42 pm
jad said:
Nour,
They are notes from someone on the Facebook, I don’t take them seriously or facts at all but writing them like that is very disturbing.
April 20th, 2011, 12:44 pm
Nour said:
Jad,
I agree that any such writings are very disturbing. I also heard from a source that people had been offered 2000 SYP to stay in tents in Homs. There are a lot of different reports coming out and it’s hard to determine for sure what is right and what is not. But what is certain is that there are certain groups, from whatever side, attempting to create chaos and instability and to stifle these important reforms. We have to remain alert and aware and keep our emotions in check so that we do not react to something in a detrimental way.
April 20th, 2011, 1:03 pm
Mouna said:
Dear Dr Landis,
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/19/uk-syria-emergency-analysis-idUKTRE73I51W20110419?pageNumber=1
Your comments in interviews are sharply at variance with what you post here on SC.
April 20th, 2011, 1:09 pm
Nour said:
???? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????????
??????
????????, 19 ?????/????? 2011 20:20
AddThis
???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ???????? ????????alt ?? ????? ???????. ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????. ??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????.
???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? 15 ????? 2011? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ????????? ????????.
??? ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??? “???????”? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??????????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????.
????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ?????????? ??????????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????. ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ??????.
????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????.
????: “??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ????????? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??????”. ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????? ????????? ????????.
???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???????.
?????: ??????? ??????? ??? ?????
????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????.
???? ????? “??? ???????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????”.
????? ?? ??? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???????: “??? ??????” ???????? ?? ?????????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????: ????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? 70 ?? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????.
??? ?? ??? ?????????? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? “?????” ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ??????????.
????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???.
??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????.
????? ??? ??????? ???? ????????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????????.
???????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??: ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????. ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????.
???? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ???? ????? “??? ????? ?? ?????? ?????”.
???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??????.
????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????????.
????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????. ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? 2012 ????? ????? ????? ?? ?????.
???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????.
http://www.alqawmi.info/alpha/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1298:2011-04-19-18-23-14&catid=71:2009-01-28-22-44-56
April 20th, 2011, 1:15 pm
Gil Franco said:
What possible good it do for the regime to announce the lifting of the emergency law and simultaneously making it clear that free speech and public demontrations still will not be tolerated. It seems to me that the government is worse off to raise expectations and then dash them.
April 20th, 2011, 1:16 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLtM4R66fQQ
Apology accepted. Now move your lazy asses and get to action.
====
The reactionary Ba’athists on this blog amuse me. They have no clue of human nature. Do you really believe that those young Syrians, who for the first time in their lives, tasted some (limited) freedom, do you think they will just go back to their homes because the regime abolished the emergency law? That is lousy understanding. But hey, Ba’athism was never about the human nature, so no wonder.
.
April 20th, 2011, 1:46 pm
Akbar Palace said:
“I used to be for the war in Iraq, until I was against it.” NewZ
Your comments in interviews are sharply at variance with what you post here on SC.
Mouna,
Good observation. I called it the “Fareed Zakaria” (or in some instances) the “John Kerry Effect”™. If you take both sides of an issue, you will be right at least half the time. In baseball, that’s a hefty .500 average!
April 20th, 2011, 1:59 pm
why-discuss said:
Vedat the turk
I suggest you read the article refered by Sophia #45 about the Moslem Brotherhood sneaky influence in the ‘freedom’ revolutions.
The false hope of revolution in Syria
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/19/why_the_syrian_case_is_different
April 20th, 2011, 2:35 pm
aqoul said:
One cannot take any of these articles promoted by commentator SOPHIA as serious or objective.
The last article he/she linked shows precisely there is an agenda behind his/her attempts for such promotion. His/her agenda is definitely not for Syria and does not fit with the aspirations of the Syrian people.
April 20th, 2011, 3:05 pm
Off the Wall said:
Dear Jad and Nour
I believe the head of the political security in Banyas was relieved of his duties. The cause, if one is to extrapolate from the post some posters have posted here without questioning the sources, and from interviews on Syrian TV is very simple
?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????
?????
😉
April 20th, 2011, 5:48 pm
Akbar Palace said:
The Word Won’t Go Away
Today’s Quiz Question:
Was the following demonstrator “sectarian”? Why or why not?
http://www.danielpipes.org/9700/mohammed-bouazizi-historical-figure
April 20th, 2011, 6:04 pm
jad said:
Dear OTW,
🙂
He was arrested because of Albaida incident.
???? ??!
April 20th, 2011, 6:18 pm
syau said:
Shami, #81,
I will begin by saying that you should get over the sectarian path, it’s getting old. Focus on a ever growing beautiful Syria which prospers under the Assad government.
With that said, I will ask you, didnt you mother ever tell you not to believe everything you read?
In answer to you to your question, I think the article is not altogether correct. He states that the Alawi have never viewed the Imam Ali (KAW)as their only God. There is only one God and that is the almighty merciful Allah. Imam Ali (KAW) describes God in the most beautiful and true way. That alone is in stark contradiction to the article. Do you homework correctly and look for it. You will be mesmerised with the description.
The Alawi religion is one of Peace, Love, Faith and Respect.
Peace, what a wonderful notion. Put that concept forward to the MB. Although they say a leopard can never change his spots, you never know, they might take the idea of peace on board.
Now as I said, it would be much better leaving the sectarian issue alone and not allow the MB and their co conspirators to continue trying to spark a sectarian civil war. Focus on a positive Syria.
April 20th, 2011, 10:08 pm
Australian- Syrian said:
SYAU,
I agree with you completely. I absolutely despise the fact that people write such filth and pass it off as the truth. The only people who know the truth about the Alawi religion are the Alawis. And, as far as i am concerned, that is how it should stay. The Alawis have no need to justify their religion. They have no need to try and show people the truth. Alawis are free to practice their religion the way they like, and no one has the right to say otherwise. Alawi’s are muslim & so was Rasool Mohamad (A.S).
If people like Souri continue to include issues such as religion into their comments, they are showing their true colours. EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT, AND FREEDOM TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION. WHETHER YOU BE CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, BUDA, HINDU, JEWISH, YOU HAVE A RIGHT AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE BREACHED BY ANYONE.
Get over yourselves Shami & Souri!! Seriously, Get over yourselves! Hate, despise, insult the Alawi religion all you like, but keep that out of the blog, as no one cares anymore about your personal outlook on that subject. Get a bloody life and stop being so sectarian. Look at the real issue behind the uprisings and think who is the real enemy…..
April 22nd, 2011, 1:27 am
Zenon said:
Sorry to digress from the subject of Syria, but your consistent use of “whom” in place of “who” became a very distracting factor in my reading.
==
http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0951130#dws-m_en_gb-m-en_gb-msdict-00002%E2%80%93056752
1 A continuing debate in English usage is the question of when to use who and when to use whom. According to formal grammar, who forms the subjective case and so should be used in subject position in a sentence, as in who decided this? The form whom, on the other hand, forms the objective case and so should be used in object position in a sentence, as in whom do you think we should support?; to whom do you wish to speak? Although there are some speakers who still use who and whom according to the rules of formal grammar as stated here , there are many more who rarely use whom at all; its use has retreated steadily and is now largely restricted to formal contexts. The normal practice in modern English is to use who instead of whom (and, where applicable, to put the preposition at the end of the sentence): who do you wish to speak to?; who do you think we should support? Such uses are today broadly accepted in standard English.
==
In other words, using who instead of whom is acceptable, but the other way around is not. See also http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0394870#m_en_gb0394870
April 22nd, 2011, 4:05 am
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