Close Menu
    Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • English
    • Français (French)
    Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
    Middle East Transparent
    • Home
    • Categories
      1. Headlines
      2. Features
      3. Commentary
      4. Magazine
      Featured
      Headlines Simon Henderson

      Promises of Billions Confirm Saudi Political Support for Syria

      Recent
      5 August 2025

      Promises of Billions Confirm Saudi Political Support for Syria

      28 July 2025

      Inside the harrowing attack on Syria’s Druze — and why the US’ first in the right direction is vita

      23 July 2025

      Türkiye’s fight against fragmentation abroad, ethnic flirtation at home

    • Contact us
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • English
    • Français (French)
    Middle East Transparent
    You are at:Home»Challenged, Syria Extends Crackdown on Dissent

    Challenged, Syria Extends Crackdown on Dissent

    0
    By Sarah Akel on 14 December 2007 Uncategorized

    Syrian authorities this week arrested more than 30 people who had been working for political change, escalating a crackdown on dissent just a week after critics elected a leadership committee in an unusually direct and public challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s authority.

    A majority of those arrested were questioned and released, dissidents and human rights advocates said. But three of the most outspoken opposition leaders remained in custody on Thursday, and others had been summoned for questioning.

    Last month, government security forces shut Facebook, the online host to a vibrant if virtual debate on the president. On Sunday, security agents began rounding up dozens of dissidents who had been meeting to create a joint opposition front, acting like a political party despite emergency laws that ban any group not connected with the government and ruling Baath Party.

    The arrests followed Syria’s participation in the Middle East peace forum at Annapolis, Md., which was seen in the region as a coup for Syria and a sign of a thaw in relations between Mr. Assad and the White House.

    Emboldened by a sense that Syria’s tough anti-American policies have paid dividends, human rights advocates say, the authorities have turned to closing the last channels of public debate.

    “This goes back to what we’ve always seen as a problem, that the opening with the West has never been contingent on Syria improving its human rights records,” Nadim Houry, who tracks Syria for Human Rights Watch, said. “It’s contingent on Syria cooperating on Lebanon, Iraq and the peace process.”

    Dissidents and human rights advocates contend that the fact that intellectuals with no political organization, and with many leaders who are frail or in jail, still pose a threat is a sign that the government is weak.

    Akram Bunni, a newspaper columnist and brother of an imprisoned human rights lawyer, was detained Tuesday; he still writes in Arab papers of the “moral bankruptcy” of Mr. Assad’s rule.

    “They’re concerned about public opinion,” he said. “They don’t want anyone, internationally or internally, to see that there are public figures who might be an alternative to the regime.”

    Dissidents say the crackdown is, paradoxically, a sign of strength and of weakness — the government has consolidated enough internal power to re-establish “red lines” limiting public criticism of its absolute leader.

    Mr. Assad briefly allowed free expression and civil society activity when he assumed the presidency after the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000. But he has gradually tightened control over the small political class, with arrests and new rules. In the past year, security services have arrested not only seasoned political advocates but also people who posted comments deemed subversive on Web sites.

    Still, dissidents challenge the government, disobeying a ban on public meetings.

    On Dec. 1, Riad Seif, a former businessman and member of Parliament and now an opposition spokesman, held a meeting with more than 160 advocates who had signed the Damascus declaration in 2005, calling on the state to lift emergency laws and allow free speech and political organization, Syrian rights advocates said.

    In a challenge to the government, which prohibits independent political parties, the dissidents formed the National Council, electing a president and leadership committee. The group includes Communists, Islamists, former Baathists and Kurds. Younger dissidents schooled on the Internet have also spoken out, mostly on opposition Web sites and on Facebook groups. Some have ended up in prison, and others, like Ahed al-Hendi and Muhammad al-Abdallah, have fled to Beirut. “They are afraid because people online meet together, share ideas, criticize the regime,” said Mr. Hendi, 23, who was held for a month after posting critical reports. “They are strong on one hand, but on another they are so weak they are afraid of an Internet cafe.”

    Despite contentions that the crackdown stems from insecurity, some Syrian analysts and diplomats say the Assad rule has staved off several crises and now feels strong enough to restore limits that once cowed critics.

    “States around us are collapsing and there’s a high perception of danger, but Syria is deterring the dangers,” an analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of government harassment, said. “The opposition doesn’t pose a threat.”

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/world/middleeast/14syria.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleQaddafi In Paris, Welcome mat for a dictator
    Next Article Dissecting the ‘Party of God’

    Comments are closed.

    RSS Recent post in french
    • Je suis 18h07 4 August 2025 Louise El Yafi
    • « Vers le sauvetage »: Pour mettre fin à l’hémorragie chiite… et lancer le redressement économique 18 July 2025 Nahwa al Inqaz
    • Du Liban indépendant et de son « héritage syrien » (avec nouvelles cartes) 8 July 2025 Jack Keilo
    • Nouvelle approche des Forces Libanaises: Alliances ou Endiguement ? 5 July 2025 Kamal Richa
    • Ce que nous attendons de vous, Monsieur le Président 3 July 2025 Michel Hajji Georgiou
    RSS Recent post in arabic
    • وعود استثمارية بمليارات الدولارات تؤكد مسار السعودية الداعم لسوريا سياسياً 9 August 2025 سايمون هندرسون
    • «حرب رمادية» تخوضها الصين لاستعادة تايوان! 8 August 2025 هدى الحسيني
    • تايلاند وكمبوديا: جمعتهما البوذية وفرَّقتهما السياسة 7 August 2025 د. عبدالله المدني
    • فادي عبّود: بدون نهج جريء سيبقى الإصلاح مُجرَّد شعار.. وسيستمر الإحباط! 7 August 2025 خاص بالشفاف
    • “انا اليهودي العالمي”: إيلي عبادي الحاخام الأندلسي الحلبي اللبناني 6 August 2025 الشفّاف
    26 February 2011

    Metransparent Preliminary Black List of Qaddafi’s Financial Aides Outside Libya

    6 December 2008

    Interview with Prof Hafiz Mohammad Saeed

    7 July 2009

    The messy state of the Hindu temples in Pakistan

    27 July 2009

    Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany Apeal to the World Conscience

    8 March 2022

    Russian Orthodox priests call for immediate end to war in Ukraine

    Recent Comments
    • K Khairallah on Türkiye’s fight against fragmentation abroad, ethnic flirtation at home
    • Elie Abdul Hay on Türkiye’s fight against fragmentation abroad, ethnic flirtation at home
    • Khairallah Khairallah on Türkiye’s fight against fragmentation abroad, ethnic flirtation at home
    • Khaled Mahrouq on Why al-Sharaa’s success in Syria is good for Israel and the US
    • Edward Ziadeh on Why al-Sharaa’s success in Syria is good for Israel and the US
    Donate
    Donate
    © 2025 Middle East Transparent

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    loader

    Inscrivez-vous à la newsletter

    En vous inscrivant, vous acceptez nos conditions et notre politique de confidentialité.

    loader

    Subscribe to updates

    By signing up, you agree to our terms privacy policy agreement.

    loader

    اشترك في التحديثات

    بالتسجيل، فإنك توافق على شروطنا واتفاقية سياسة الخصوصية الخاصة بنا.