New York City – March 15th, 2011 known as the “Day of Rage” protests in Syria marks the nationwide uprising that erupted against a President who knows no end to power and no limit to human rights abuses. As the revolution remains unending, Syrians residing in New York and neighboring East Coast states came together on Friday March 15th, 2019 in Commemoration of the 8th Anniversary of the Syrian Revolution. They gathered in front of the United Nations Headquarters, in an effort to raise international awareness about the mass atrocities taking place in Syria and in hopes of reigniting the once passionate endeavors of Syrians around the world and especially those back home to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad and bring about peaceful democratic change to their homeland.
Though these efforts remain ideal and hopeful, the question arises whether gathering in front of the UN Headquarters truly makes even the slightest difference. A symbol of international peace and security, the UN neglected the peoples of Syria as the international community failed and still fails to implement R2P, even after the deaths of over a million people. Moreover, President al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons against his own people was dismissed as the Security Council remains divided. When does peoples’ suffering come to an end?
As the Syrian diaspora chanted in front of the UN, the main message that was portrayed is that Syrians want freedom and are asking the world to stand with them. They insist that what is happening inside Syria’s borders is not a civil war, but rather a revolution. It is a struggle between dictatorship and freedom.
Abdelrahman, a graduate of history and political science, noted that corruption and nepotism in Syria are the main causes of the revolution voicing that “the diaspora should focus on helping Syrians inside of Syria that are still not under Assad’s control”.
Meghan K., an American artist and independent consultant who stands in solidarity with the Syrians, depicted the purpose of the revolution “is to be self-determining”. “They [the Syrian people] didn’t vote-in the person who’s running the country right now and so the people are wishing to self-determine and Americans should support that because that’s the American wish – democracy. They’re requesting it, one should listen to their requests.” When asked whether the gathering in front of the UN would yield any difference, Meghan responded: “I would like to say yes. I am not sure. The UN has not done a great job of listening. I think we should continue to show up however, even if they are not listening very well. We will continue to encourage them to listen and to make a difference and protect innocent people.”
Though it seems the efforts of those displaced throughout Syria and beyond its borders and of those who continue living through the cruelty carry little significance to achieving change, people have taken justice-seeking into their own hands. Syrians have stopped desperately waiting on the international community to interfere or even implement the basic human rights that the whole world seemed to agree upon. Their justice will come about through truth-seeking and story-telling. They hold on to narratives of the injustices they lived and are still living in hopes of spreading knowledge and an unfiltered truth about the strife they have been struggling through for the past 8 years. As Nizzam F., the organizer of the commemoration that was recently held in New York, noted: “the regime in Syria needs to be changed.” It is corrupt and as can be seen “after 8 years, we have 13 million displaced and 1 million dead and the whole world is watching the country under total corruption.”
However, the reality is that the revolution is no longer black and white. The purpose people once held close to their hearts has either changed or disappeared. “The purpose of the gathering is to give an idea to people around the world and, especially, the UN that the revolution is still ongoing and we know the UN isn’t going to do anything because of the United States’ and Russia’s support of al-Assad.” Publicly and to the media the US, more specifically former President Obama, was demanding that al-Assad needs to step down, but “ under the table he was one of the biggest supporters of al-Assad’s regime, because if the US wanted to get rid of him they would have done so in the first 10 days.” Obama made it clear that the use of chemical weapons is a red-line, and” everyone is aware that there are chemical weapons in Syria and that the regime used them multiple times even from before.” Despite all of this “even when al-Assad used chemical weapons, and the whole world witnessed this, no one did anything. And the one who let us down the most when it came to the chemical weapons situation was Obama.”
From the onset, the Syrian regime requested Shiite militias from Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. When that didn’t work out Iran interfered, and when Iran’s interference failed Russia stepped in without the request of the regime and occupied Syria. Nizzam highlighted that now there is no governance in Syria, “the whole world is fighting on Syrian grounds except the Syrian people.” “The whole world is aware of what is happening. There is not a single country that is not aware of the situation in Syria, but everyone is turning their backs and closing their eyes.” Now that Russia got involved and occupied Syria, the situation grew even more bitter. “Who is going to fight against Russia for the sake of Syria? No one, of course.” As long as there is Russian occupation, the Syrian citizens stand alone. Even the US involvement significantly decreased. “It became a game of cat and mouse.”
“From the start it was never a civil war, this terminology is wrong. It is a war against the regime. It is a revolution.” Syria is over a thousand years old, the regime’s existence merely 40-50 years. Christians, Muslims, and Jews all co-existed. However, “al-Assad came into power and wants to separate the Syrian peoples.” It is not a civil war nor a sectarian or religious war, it is only al-Assad protecting his sect. Moreover, he is using the protection of other minorities, which coexisted long before, as a means to try and validate his abuse of power. “Hezbollah separated Lebanon, al-Assad separated Syria, and the Houthi separated Yemen. This is the game that plays into the issue of religions.” They say it is a fight against Daesh, “yet 52 countries, superpowers like the US and European countries between them, are not able to stop Daesh. The CIA reported 32,000 Daesh militants and those 52 countries are not able to overcome them. Where does all the weapons production of these countries go? Daesh.”
Unfortunately, alone, the Syrian diaspora are unable to help the people suffering in Syria who lack access to electricity, water, food, medical supplies, etc…. Nizzam stressed that they “gather in protest of the regime and commemoration of the revolution to show the people around the world and especially those within Syria that we are still with them and did not forget them.” “For help, it is the countries that are supposed to help, and it is the countries that are not helping.” As long as this regime remains powerful in Syria, no one is able to send anything to those suffering within Syrian borders.” Some organizations are trying to aid financially and through the collection of basic necessities and supplies, but it is very minimal in comparison to all the destruction that has happened and is still happening. “We should encourage the more powerful governments who stand for democracy to stand by the Syrian people.”
INTERVIEWS
Nizzam Fattal – Organizer of the Commemoration in front of UN
Y: Is the revolution still ongoing in Syria and does it have the same purpose as in the beginning?
N: Yes, of course.
Y: What’s the purpose?
N: Change of the regime.
Y: Why?
N: Because the regime [in Syria needs to be changed because it is corrupt and as can be seen] “after 8 years, we have 13 million displaced and 1 million dead and the whole world is watching the country under total corruption”.
N: “The purpose of the gathering is to give an idea to people around the world and especially the UN that the revolution is still ongoing and we know the UN isn’t going to do anything because of the United States’ and Russia’s support of al-Assad.” “On top of the table the US (ex Obama) was saying that al-Assad needs to step down, but we know that under the table he was one of the biggest supporters of al-Assad, because if the US wanted to get rid of al-Assad they would have done so in the first 10 days”. “Obama said that chemical weapons are a red-line, and everyone is aware that there are chemical weapons in Syria and that the regime used chemical weapons multiple times even from before, and despite all of this even when al-Assad used chemical weapons and the whole world saw with their eyes no one did anything. And the one who let us down the most when it came to the chemical weapons situation was Obama.” “Unfortunately, to help the people suffering in Syria who lack access to electricity, water, food, medical supplies … we are unable to help them. This gathering is to show the people around the world and the especially those still in Syria that we are still with them and did not forget them.” “For help, it is the countries that are supposed to help, and it is the countries that are not helping. As long as this regime is still in Syria, no one is being able to send anything to those inside Syria.” “Some organizations are trying to help and send money and supplies back to Syria, but it is very minimal in comparison to all the destruction that has happened and is still happening.” “We should encourage the big government like the US and Europe, of course not Russia because it Is in total occupation of Syria.” “The US and Europe, democracies, should stand by the Syrian people.” “From the beginning, The Syrian regime requested Shiite militias from Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. When the situation didn’t work out Iran interfered, that didn’t work out, then Russia came without the request of the regime and occupied Syria.” “Now, is there governance in Syria? The whole world is fighting on Syrian grounds except the Syrian people.” “The whole world is aware of what is happening. There is not one country [person] that is not aware of the situation in Syria. Whoever says they do not know about what is happening in Syria is lying, everybody knows, but everyone is turning their backs and closing their eyes. Now that Russia got involved and occupied Syria, the situation became even bigger. Who is going to go in a fight with Russia for Syria? No one of course. Now the Syrian citizens are alone, as long as Russia got involved and occupied Syria. Even the US stopped getting involved. It became like a cat and mouse game.” “From the start it is not a civil war, I am against this terminology, this is wrong. It is a war against the regime. It is a revolution. Syria is over a thousand years old, the regime is barely there for 40-50 years, Syria has Christians, Muslims, Jews, from before that all co-existed now assad came and wants to separate the Syrian peoples. It is not a civil war or sectarian war or religious war, it is only assad’s sect that he took under his protection and is now saying he is going to protect the minorities. All the people coexisted for thousands of years. Bilad al sham. Hezbollah separated leb. Assad separted Syria, and yemen the houssi separated them. This is the game, to get into the situation (mawdo3) of religions. They say it’s all daesh, but can it be 52 countries superpowers, between them the USA, are not able to stop daesh. CIA was saying there are 32,000 militants in daesh and 52 countries of them USA and Europe are not able to overcome them. Are you laughing at us? The people of your countries laugh at them. They don’t follow the news, the American people don’t care. All these weapons ma3amel where do they go?”
Abdelrahman – graduate of history and political science
Y: Do you still think that the revolution is ongoing in Syria?
A: I think it’s in some areas it’s still existent.
Y: Do you think it has the same cause as it once did in the beginning?
A: I think it has the same cause.
Y: And what is that cause?
A: Corruption, nepotism, and also …that’s it.
Y: Do you think today’s gathering here will make a difference?
A: I hope it makes a difference, but I’m not sure.
Y: One critical point of mine is that people back home in Syria, they have no access to electricity, no access to water, very bad medical care, barely any food… do you feel that other things should be done by the people, by the diaspora of Syria who are out of the country perhaps to help the situation back home?
A: I think the diaspora should focus on helping Syrians inside of Syria that are still not under Assad control.
Y: Do people here today do anything to help the people back home?
A: They do.
Y: Can you give me some examples of what’s being done?
A: There’s charities and stuff like that that they do.
Meghan K. – artist and independent consultant → American not Syrian, standing in solidarity with the Syrians
Y: How did you hear about what’s happening in Syria?
M: I mean I’ve seen it in the news since its started, and I got very interested in it in a few years as I engaged more deeply with activism, broadly in the United States and realized I wanted to know more of what the Syrian people were thinking and saying rather than just the western opinion. So I spent more time and energy investigating that.
Y: Do you still believe that a revolution is going on in Syria or no longer?
M: I think there are people who want freedom, so in that sense yes. I think they’re up against very difficult things, and I support their wish for freedom.
Y: What do you believe is the purpose of the revolution?
M: Well, from what I understood it was first wanting justice for the children who were harmed for writing the graffiti on the wall and they first wanted the police men to be held accountable and the mayor. And then after it became clear that people were going to be killed if they spoke out against that, it became a larger movement to overthrow the regime.
Y: What do you feel is the purpose of this revolution?
M: So I think at the end it’s to be self-determining, is the purpose of the revolution. They didn’t vote in who the person whose running the country right now and so the people are wishing to self-determine and Americans should support that because that’s the American wish.
Y: Democracy?
M: Yeah, democracy. They’re requesting it, one should listen to their requests. I support that.
Y: Do you think that this gathering in front of the UN today will make a difference?
M: I would like to say yes. I am not sure. The UN has not done a great job of listening. I think we should continue to show up however, even if they are not listening very well. We will continue to encourage them to listen and to make a difference and protect innocent people.
