Situation in Syria- DM Varun

The situation in Syria started. Peacefully, as part of the event commonly called "The Arab Spring" in early of 2011. People living in these countries across the Middle East took to the streets to protest the long rule of their supreme leaders. These protestors are called for greater rights and more freedom. In some of these countries, like Tunisia and Egypt, the rulers were overthrown without much violence. In Libya, the dictator Muammar Qaddafi was thrown out from power by a combination of rebel forces or non-state actors and attacks from a group of states backed by the United Nations Security Council. Protests in Syria were met with the government increasing crackdowns. on freedoms. These events eventually became a full-on attacks on civilians, including the shelling and bombing of cities .President Bashar al-Assad had faced a growing pressure from the international community to end his oppression, but the violence continues. It was said there is widespread torture being carried out in state of prisons. The people in Syria are also very diverse, making efforts to end this violence. Syria has many religions. Most Syrians are Muslims who practice the Shiite branch of Islam, with minority Sunni, Druze, and Christian communities. President Assad is the member of a branch of Islam, called Alawites, different than most of Syria. President Assad has claimed that if he is forced out of office, factions within Syria will be more likely to fight among themselves for control of the country. Making matters more complicated is the fact that members of the opposition have begun fighting back against the government. The Free Syrian Military is made up of soldiers who deserted from the Syrian Army, civilians wanting to fight with the Assad government, and foreign elements who may not have Syria's best interests at heart. They have been increasing their attacks against government properties and officials and the Syrian Army. The demands and needs of either side are hard to bring together. The Syrian Republic government wants all rebels and non-state actors to surrender themselves to prison and for all protests against the government to stop. The rebels want President Assad to step down from power and let free elections happen in Syria.

[i]References:

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[i]  United Nations. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm

2 Al Jazeera. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/05/20115117374683547.html 2 Al Jazeera. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/05/20115117374683547.html

3 Al Jazeera. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/05/2012516145146401292.html