Syrians in Cairo welcome Arab League's decision

2011-11-14 By Mohammed Mahmoud in Cairo

Syrian protesters chant anti-government slogans during an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo November 12th. [Asmaa Waguih / Reuters]

Syrian opposition leaders and members of the expatriate community in Cairo welcomed the Arab League's decision on Saturday (November 12th) to suspend Syria's membership.

Activists called it a step toward achieving the Syrian people's demand for change and their desire to build a democratic state that protects the rights and freedom of its citizens.

The Arab League decided during an emergency session of foreign ministers on Saturday to suspend the Syrian government's participation in future Arab League meetings and other relevant bodies. The suspension will take effect November 16th unless Damascus implements the terms of the Arab League Initiative, which it agreed to November 2nd.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister who chairs the special ministerial committee dealing with the Syrian crisis, announced in a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi that the Arab League will impose economic and political sanctions on the Syrian government. The League also advised member countries to suspend their diplomatic missions in Syria but left that decision up to each individual country.

The Arab League also called on the Syrian Army to refrain from killing demonstrators and announced that it is planning to establish an Arab-international mechanism that would protect civilians from violence.

The Arab League invited members of the Syrian opposition to meet in Cairo on Monday with al-Arabi and members of the special ministerial committee dealing with the Syrian crisis to discuss a shared strategy for the upcoming transitional period in Syria.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al- al-Moualem provided an official response to the Arab League's decision Monday when he called the Arab League's decision "illegitimate and illegal". Syrian officials also called for an emergency summit meeting to discuss the decision and ways to avert crisis in Syria.

Al-Moualem said Damascus had planned to end hostilities during Eid al-Adha, "but an escalation in acts of violence prevented that from happening". He also expressed a willingness on the part of the Syrian government to engage in dialogue with the opposition, including expatriates, in Damascus.

According to United Nations figures, 3,500 people have died during demonstrations against the Assad regime since March.

The Syrian government has blamed the unrest on "terrorist" groups and Islamic extremists supported by outside forces. It alleged that 1,100 Syrian soldiers and police were killed in the clashes.

Another Arab League meeting of foreign ministers is scheduled for November 16th to discuss the Syrian issue on the sidelines of the Arab-Turkish Forum in Rabat. This meeting, held on the same day as the decision to suspend Syria's membership takes effect, will seek to assess the Syrian regime's level of commitment to implementing the articles proposed by the Arab League Initiative.

The initiative stipulates a halt to all violence against Syrian civilians, a retreat of all military forces and artillery from Syrian cities, the release of detainees who were arrested during the protests that started in March and open media access to Syria. It also calls for a national dialogue between the Syrian regime and all elements of the opposition under the auspices of the Arab League.

Moumin Kuifatieh, a writer and member of the Syrian opposition who lives in Cairo, told Al-Shorfa that the Arab League's decision is "a beginning in the right direction to drop the Assad regime, which is committing crimes against the Syrian people".

He said the decision came very late and "its implementation requires genuine determination to assist the Syrian people in their struggle toward freedom and removal of the Assad regime."

"During this current critical situation, there is a pressing need to bring the Syrian portfolio to the United Nations which should, in turn, demand that the Syrian regime cease killing [its civilians] and also impose a no-fly zone over Syria," Kuifatieh said. He said this would allow the Free Syrian Army, a dissident group which has broken away from the army, to protect civilians and continue with the revolution until the government collapses.

"The Syrian regime is toying with the Arab League and is trying to stall for time in the hope of destroying the revolution. However, that will not happen because the Assad regime is nearing its end with the growing pressure of the revolution that is spreading countrywide," Kuifatieh said.

Syrian community in Cairo protests against Assad regime

After the Arab League announced its decision, hundreds of members of the Syrian community in Cairo camped out in front of the Syrian embassy demanding that Yousif al-Ahmed, the Syrian ambassador to Egypt, be expelled and that ties with the Assad regime be permanently severed. Demonstrators also held banners that read, "Another Chance for Assad = More Killing" and "Long Live Syria and Down with Bashar Assad".

"The Arab League has to listen to the Syrian people and rescue scores of people being killed on a daily basis just because they demand change and justice," said Sulaiman Mundhir, a young Syrian living in Cairo.

Hundreds of Syrians have protested in front of Arab League headquarters since mid-October to put pressure on the organisation to suspend Syria's membership and bring the issue to the United Nations.

Political analysts say that providing safety for Syrian civilians is the Arab League's primary concern after suspension of Syria's membership because some believe the Assad regime will not end the violence against demonstrators.

Dr. Imad Jad, a political analyst with the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Shorfa that the Arab League's decision is "a step toward more stringent measures because it is unlikely that Assad will co-operate with the Arab League's decision, which will eventually lead to his isolation in the Arab region".

He said isolation of the Assad regime may lead to international intervention in Syria because that would be the only option facing the Arab and international communities.

"If the Syrian regime complies with the Arab League's demands, then intervention will be highly unlikely because it is an unfavourable option to begin with among many Arab countries," Jad said. "Moreover, international powers have not yet expressed willingness for military intervention in Syria as was the case in Libya."

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READER COMMENTS

2012-1-17

I ask the Syrians to continue fighting, because these speeches are only aimed at frightening people. Besides, he has used these speeches in order to make propaganda and to save himself from the difficult situation. I pray God Almighty to achieve Syria’s stability. This is in order to allow Syrians to have a position among the Arab and European countries, God willing. Thus, the martyrs’ blood will not be lost and things will return to the way they were before, God Almighty willing. In fact, he will kill people even without coming to power. And the Syrians will not forgive him, because he has caused their suffering. I pray God Almighty to save the Syrians from this criminal dictator, Bashar Al-Asad. This is in order to make Syria enjoy security and safety. Thus, it is important to hold free elections. And we hope that the new ruler will have mercy on the Syrians. This is in order to allow those who have immigrated to Lebanon and Turkey to return to their country safe. This is also in order to regain their dignity, God Almighty willing. In fact, the Arab rulers don’t want the well-being of their countries. Thus, the people will punish them before they reach power, God Almighty willing. May God grant the well-being of Syria, and may God bless the heroic martyrs who have sacrificed their souls for the sake of Syria.
منتصر

2011-12-30

It is true, Aleppo has many true men and there is magnanimity, etc…However, I wonder about their role in the Syrian Revolution. Idleb is no bigger than Aleppo! Are the Shabiha more numerous in Homs, Hama, Idleb and other regions than they are in Aleppo? No one can stop true men. Stop your gossip about people who never gave up the demonstrations, despite their hunger! O Aleppo inhabitants, you are having good time and enjoying barbecues, etc… We do not expect you to participate even in the strikes. The population of Aleppo has reached 5 million people, but there are no strikes. They do not help the other provinces with medicine and food. The demonstrators at Aleppo’s universities come from other regions.
مخلد

2011-12-24

The Arab League recognizes that the main problem with the opposition is its submission to Turkish control. In fact, Turkey is likely to fuel the sectarian conflicts, using the principle of “divide and conquer.” We should not trust the Turkish intervention. I think that the Syrian opposition should keep away from the Turkish influence. This country cares for nothing but preventing the Kurds from playing any role and retaining a dominant role in the region. So I think that the Arab League is trying not to rush to weaken al-Asad before they test the potential of the opposition and its ability to ensure peaceful co-existence with each other, without the intervention of the Turks or the Iranians.The opposition and the rebels are exercising the same methods as the regime is, in dealing with divergent views in demonstrations, strikes…etc. They started to take revenge on and torture to death anyone who disagrees with them. O peaceful rebels, why do you exercise the methods of a regime that hates and even fights? Do you really expect the support of people after you deviated from your non-violent slogan? All criminals, those who assault women and drug dealers, are claiming that they are esteemed rebel leaders and coordinators. However, their neighbors know quite well that they are actually criminals. A revolution against killing will never prevail through killing. Similarly, a revolution based on discrimination between towns, ethnicities and sects will never achieve success. More importantly, this revolution is led by scattered people who will never agree.
برهان الشامي

2011-12-23

You are very late, dear HH sheikh Hamad; however, I cannot deny the fact that you are a wise and brave man. God willing, the supplications of those who suffered from the prosecution will be in the record of your good deeds. We ask God to protect you and the Emir of the country, as well as the leaders of the Gulf States and Turkey. You won in the moral and human battle, and your evil enemies, represented by Iran, Syria, Iraq and Russia, have lost. This file must be submitted to the UN to conduct immediate investigation on this issue. The manipulation must stop and the conspiracies of Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon must stop too. We have to tighten the Arab boycott, especially in the Gulf States.
عصام الحاج

2011-12-22

They said that Bashar must punish the killers. May God the helper and the protector bless the martyrs. Do you think that the killer will be a fair judge? There is nothing easier than that. In fact, he has brought 2000 officers of the army and he has executed them, under the pretext that they were shooting people without orders. Thus, he has got rid of some patriots. And he has pretended to be innocent of crimes. This is unacceptable. Thus, those who don’t want to speak the truth must remain silent. May God help the victory of the free Syrian people. God is great, Homs, Deir Al-Zour, Idleb, Diraa and Douma. God is great, Nabak and Kara. God is great everywhere.
خالد نصر

2011-12-21

How can the non-Muslim sect of Nusayris who do not believe in prayer, fasting, Zakat, Hajj, the Day of Judgment, punishment, heaven, fire, or resurrection, who do not even have mosques and whose percentage doesn’t exceed 3% of the Syrian people, how could they rule a majority of Muslims? How can they control all the government’s main departments? Who has helped them to achieve that? This is strange; there is something wrong.
متصم عمرو

2011-12-21

We call on every true, honest Arab Minister who has the qualities of Arabs to face the journalists and to forget about diplomacy. He should tell us the truth about the hidden events in the Arab League and Arab and international conferences about the fate of the free Syrian people, the descendents of Khaled, Salah al-Din and Yousef Alazama. This Minister should fear none but Almighty God while giving his statement. If ever he feels fearful of such statements, he could ask the descendents of Khaled in Homs for political asylum. The latter are imposing their influence, just like their spiritual father, in order to fight injustice and save the people who are sacrificing their lives in order to get rid of the oppression of this criminal regime. Is there a wise man among you?
jaber

2011-12-21

Syria is really responsible for all the calamities in Iraq. It has hosted the Baathists, whose hands have been tainted by the blood of the innocent, but I do not mean here the honorable Baathist. Yet, we cannot see Syria in such a situation. Thus, we will support all the Syrian parties in solving the crisis. I would like to call on all the Iraqis who are speaking about their government to respect the parliamentary majority, given that the Iraqis are those who have elected them.
Ghanimm

2011-12-21

Today, Syria is witnessing a state of bloodshed and the burning of rights. Syrian cities have been destroyed by Al-Assad’s gangs. In fact, Syria has witnessed the arrest of about 100 thousand people since the beginning of the revolution. Thus, the Syrian regime has become more criminal than Gaddafi. Besides, there have been tens of thousands of injured people. And the number of martyrs has exceeded 6 thousand, in addition to the "disappeared" persons. This has caused families and parents’ suffering. In fact, the Arab League has remained silent. Besides, international actions have been very slow. Thus, Bashar has not been brought to the International Court of Justice. Shame on you; you are dancing while our people have been slaughtered from the vein. May God protect Syria and the Syrians… In fact, people have been the only losers, because the politicians want to cling to power, the opposition also wants to take power, and Syrians have been killed. Thus, the Syrian social conflict will increase between Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, Druze and Kurds. In fact, Syrians have been suffering. Thus, may God protect Syria. And may God bless the Syrian martyrs. In fact, this is the blood of our brothers. However, no one respects it. How can they capture this man? Has he already been handcuffed?
الفهيم

2011-12-21

This message is addressed to the Syrian people. Do not worry and be patient. God is supporting us. We are still working day and night to liberate you. The battle will continue till we liberate Syria and the other Arab countries from killers and tyrants. We will not give up till they respond to the demands of the people and overthrow this regime once for all. You have permission to start step number nine! We know that the regime will respond violently, as usual. I pray to God to grant mercy and victory to the revolutionaries and the Syrian people. May God protect you! Be patient, because God is with patient people. O brotherly Arabs! Keep praying God to grant a speedy victory to the oppressed Syrian people. God is greater than the oppressors and killers of innocent people. There were wonderful mass demonstrations which came out of all the mosques in order to gather in Freedom Square and support Homs and the other occupied regions, and to call for an international intervention to protect Syrians. Halfaya: There were wonderful mass demonstrations which came out of all the mosques in order to gather in Freedom Square and support Homs and the other occupied regions, and to call for an international intervention to protect Syrians. Treemssa: There were mass demonstrations which came out of all the mosques after the Friday Prayer in order to support Homs and the other occupied regions, and to call for a no fly zone.
Muhamad

2011-12-21

May God bless you, brothers, and all the really patriotic and nationalist Iraqis who are fighting whoever tries to ignite the abhorrent sectarian strife. I would just like to ask you whether you are convinced of the current parliament and the elected government. I have been busy, just like you, following the democratic change, hoping for all the best from the fair elections. Yet, like all Iraqis, we have been surprised by the tricks of the constitution, which was drafted by the incompetent colonial power. The latter has marginalized the immeasurable Iraqi talents, limited the existing parties which have stolen the votes of the inexperienced Iraqi voters and manipulated their emotions. As a result, the results have been disappointing for all of us. Thus, we pray to God to correct the path and to drive us to the safe side, as our Iraq deserves.
badry

2011-12-21

Hama: some demonstrations took place in most of the neighborhoods and mosques of Hama. The gangs of the Assad army shot demonstrators indiscriminately. Furthermore, a number of armored and military vehicles, cars, gangs and security bandits were wandering in the Arbaein neighborhood. They were making patrols in the neighborhood. They were shooting people in the Qusur neighborhood, where two mass demonstrations came out of Rahman Bin Awf and the Mercy Mosques. On the other hand, there was massive shooting in all directions, especially from the medical complex in the Hamidiya neighborhood. In fact, the regime’s bandits and the security gangs are located in this complex. Hama suburbs: a demonstration took place in the city of Soran and Maards in the northern suburb of Hama. Damascus suburbs, Eastern Ghouta: The military and security forces are waging an unprecedented campaign in the region. For the first time, tanks entered the cities of eastern Ghouta, where they shot people with small arms, artillery and tank guns. The wounded are left in the streets without first aid. The sound of explosions was everywhere. There are nine confirmed martyrs so far. Many wounded victims are seriously injured and people could not help them. The Zil cars, tanks and BTR vehicles are still coming and spreading. God is great! We will prevail!
حمودي كوردي

2011-12-3

We ask God to protect Dr. Bashar. Syria is good. All the Arab countries are allies of Israel.
حيدر

2011-12-2

Dear brothers in Syria, do not make the mistake that was made by the Iraqis and keep Syria united. May God help you.
أثق إطلاقا

2011-12-2

I do not trust the decisions of the Syrian government in any way.
محمد

2011-11-30

We ask God to grant victory to the revolutionaries in our beloved Syria. May mercy be upon our martyrs and I wish that our brothers in the neighboring Arab countries would exert pressures on the Arab League through your peaceful demonstrations to support the innocent souls that were killed by the regime. We call on our Muslim and Christian brothers to take an honorable stance towards this case.
eisa

2011-11-30

We ask God to help you, brothers. I also ask God to support you, to defeat oppression.
sousou

2011-11-30

What is next?
خخ

2011-11-28

Thank God! I seek refuge in God from Satan the accursed! “O, you who believe! If you support the cause of God, He will support you and make your foothold firm.” The victory of God will not be achieved only by carrying weapons. It will be achieved by following the religion of God and adhering to it truthfully and honestly. It is to be sincere and devout to Almighty God by following His Book and the Prophetic teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the authentic teachings of Muhammad known to the scholars. We have to strive to do that and to apply the religion of God so that the word of God becomes dominant. The one who does that is striving in the path of God, and God is his supporter. God knows best!
ابو كريم

2011-11-18

Ever since the Syrian people started their peaceful revolution, which was sparked by children who do not know or understand the meaning of the revolution or coup, the prisons have been filled with innocent people who were arrested for no reason. In addition, graves have become overcrowded with the bodies of casualties that were killed by the bullets of the security forces. This is only because the Syrian people asked for their most basic rights, such as job opportunities, raising the living standards of citizens, and other reforms. The decisions of the Syrian government are not trustworthy, such as the decision to pardon the detainees, when in fact they did not release all of them, they only set some of them free for the public opinion, to show that they are not vicious beasts who are waiting for the chance to kill as many as possible of the innocent citizens in order to satisfy their sick souls at the expense of others. This was even confirmed by the resolution of the Arab League to condemn the Syrian regime.
ابو جودي

2011-11-18

I do not trust the decisions of the Syrian government at all, no matter what kind of decisions they are. This government is practicing the most horrendous crimes against the Syrians, who are only asking for their constitutionally legitimate rights. This government claims that Syria supports the principles of democracy and believes in the theory of engaging all sects of the nation to take part in the political process. The government claims that Syria is a democratic country that lets all Syrians use their freedom of expression to claim their rights. Unfortunately, there is a great difference between what is written in the constitution and what is happening on the ground.
سعيد

2011-11-15

Gracious! May God bless you.