Weekly Action - 18 December 2024 - Syria
Take action to support democracy and human rights with the new government in Syria.
Syria revolution
The world has watched with astonishment in the last few weeks as Bashar al Assad’s brutal regime in Syria was toppled by rebels within days, after 50 years of Assad family rule. Assad’s government became notorious across the world when it responded with extreme repression to peaceful attempts by its citizens to call for more democracy and human rights during the Arab Spring in 2011. This unleashed a brutal civil war with multiple factions and led to more than 5 million Syrians fleeing their country as refugees. With the backing of Russia and Iran, Assad’s regime maintained power, but in recent months Russia has been focused on the war in Ukraine and Iran has been severely weakened by Israeli attacks on its proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, and direct strikes on Iran itself. With this support significantly diminished the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebel group already in control of parts of the country around Idlib since 2017, and other rebels launched an astonishingly successful offensive. On 27 November they launched a large-scale attack on government forces in western Aleppo. By 30 November Aleppo had fallen, by 5 December they had taken the city of Hama, by 6 December they had also taken Daraa, with Homs falling on the following day. Finally by 8 December they were in control in Damascus and Assad had fled the country for Russia.
The people of Syria have shown widespread jubilation at the fall of Assad’s dictatorship. “I can't even describe this thing that's going on right now, it's massive, huge happiness, we are all experiencing this together” Haia Farhan, a young Syrian woman, told Sky News. “I see the future and it's looking very bright and yes everyone is scared, it's scary times, but I see the future, and I really hope it's bright”, she said.[1] So far HTS have started well. There has been no widespread retribution against communities perceived to have been loyal to Assad. They have kept former civil servants and government workers in place to prevent the widespread collapse of government and public services. They have sworn to govern for all Syrians, and have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir, the previous civilian administrative leader under their rule in Idlib, as Prime Minister to lead a caretaker transition government for the nation until a new government can be formed by 1 March 2025. They have said that all rebel groups will be disbanded and their fighters incorporated into the Syrian army. They are calling for the many sanctions put in place by the international community against the country whilst it was under Assad to be lifted.
However, HTS is in origin an Islamic extremist group that came out of al-Qaeda. Whilst it claims to have moved away from these roots, and is making many of the right signals about being inclusive and freedom loving, there is real fear that it could revert to type and install an extremist regime. Furthermore, there are many other factions, communities and armed groups in this complex and diverse country. Syrian Arab Sunni Muslims make up 70% of the population but there are also large Christian, Druze, Kurdish and Shiite Muslim and other minority populations. Holding peaceful unity and respecting the rights and freedoms of all communities will not be easy. In the weeks and months ahead the international community will have to apply intense focus to Syria, both to support the new regime to govern effectively, fairly and peacefully, and to hold them to account to uphold good governance, basic human rights and freedoms.
Good governance and human rights
As Christians we know that God wants all governments in every country to rule with justice, equality and fairness, respecting the rights and freedoms of all their subjects equally. As it says in the book of Leviticus “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly” (Lev 19: 15). Syria is at a cross roads, there is great opportunity for a new start with greater freedom and rights for all Syrians. But equally, this precarious moment could very easily slip into one of deep division, factionalism, extremism and renewed violence. At this time the UK and all nations must apply intense pressure to prevent that from happening. Throughout history one of the most effective ways for nations to get better human rights, good governance and democratic standards has been through peaceful bottom-up reform movements protesting and holding power to account. Throughout history, Christians and churches have played a hugely important central role in such reform movements (Arise Manifesto, pg 283 – 303). Supporting such bottom-up Reform Movements (and the Christians that are so often at the heart of them) is one of three key focus campaigns for Arise.
This week will you take action to apply pressure for greater freedoms and human rights in Syria at this moment of opportunity?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Email David Lammy, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in your own words, asking him to:
- Apply all possible diplomatic pressure and intervention to support the new government in Syria and ensure it upholds the strongest possible standards of freedom, equality, human rights and ultimately democracy for all its citizens.
- Ensure the UK does all it can to support reform movements in Syria who are speaking out for democracy, human rights and freedom, and will play a crucial role holding their government to account on these essential issues.
Email him at david.lammy.mp@parliament.uk
Pray
Pray for Syria at this critical time. Pray that the new government will be true to its word and create a civilian run, democratic rule in the country which respects the human rights and freedoms of all its citizens. Pray against any descent back into violence and factionalism.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like International Justice Mission, and to secular groups like Freedom House, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who are doing crucial work protecting human rights globally.
Practical Action
If you are from outside the UK, help spread the message further by getting in touch with us at info@ariseuk.org and letting us know if you would be interested in helping set up a branch of Arise in your country.
Ethical Consumption
Support peace and development in Syria by buying products and services from the country whenever you can.
Find out more
Latest news – Updates on previous campaigns and latest news from the Arise movement.
Join a local Arise group in your church or area – It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested.
Arise Manifesto – Find out more about this week’s action in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world.
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[1] Syrians celebrate ‘Victory Day’ – but are nervous about what comes next, Sky News, (14 Dec 2024), https://news.sky.com/story/syrians-celebrate-victory-day-but-are-nervous-about-what-comes-next-13272841