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The 2011 Syrian protests are a series of minor protests happening in Syria which began on 26 January 2011 and are influenced by other protests in the region

Background

On 31 January 2011, the Wall Street Journal ran an exclusive interview with Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, in which he said it's time to reform. In a comment on the protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, he said a "new era" is coming to the Middle East, and that Arab rulers would need to do more to accommodate their people's rising political and economic aspirations. However, president Al-Assad has also declared that his state is immune from the kinds of mass protests that have taken place in Egypt.

Timeline

On 26 January 2011, Hasan Ali Akleh from Al-Hasakah poured gasoline and burned himself in the same way as Mohamed Bouazizi. According to eyewitnesses, the action was "a protest against the Syrian government".

On 28 January 2011, a demonstration was held in Ar-Raqqah during the evening, in protest against the killing of two soldiers of Kurdish descent.

On 3 February another "Day of rage" was called for in Syria from 4–5 February on social media sites Facebook and Twitter. Protesters demand reform in the government, however most protests so far have remained outside of Syria and have been small. The protests were expected to begin on 4 February 2011 as social media mobilised the people of Syria for rallies demanding freedom, human rights and the end to the state of emergency. Protests were also scheduled for 5 February in front of the parliament in Damascus and at Syrian embassies internationally. The only known action took place February 5, where hundreds of protesters in Al-Hasakah participated in a mass demonstration, calling for the President's departure. Syrian authorities have arrested dozens and the demonstration was triggered quickly. Suhair Atassi, who runs the banned Jamal Atassi Forum, called for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the emergency law in place since 1963. However, no protests occurred on either date. Though internet services were said to have been curbed, Facebook and Youtube were reported to have been restored on 8 February. Suggestions were made that easing the ban could be a way to track activists. After the failure of attempts to a "day of rage," Al Jazeera called the country "a kingdom of silence" and identified key factors for stability within Syria as being strict security measures, the popularity of President Bashar al-Assad, and fears of potential sectarian violence in the aftermath of a government ouster (akin to neighbouring Iraq).

On February 17, a fight took place in central Damascus, between a shop owner and traffic police. Everything took a new turn when three police officers began attacking the man and beat him severely. Several people gathered around and blocked the road, while shouting "the Syrian people will not be pushed down". An eyewitness estimated the number to more than 1,500 demonstrators. Secret police officers arrived quickly to the scene along with several government officials and finally Minister of the Interior who dispersed the demonstrators. The minister took the shop owner in his car and promised to investigate what had happened. A couple of hours later, several video versions were posted on YouTube.

On February 19, several Syrian websites reported widespread anti-government graffiti across Damascus and other major cities.

On 22 February, 14 people were arrested and several more beaten by uniformed and plainclothes police following a peaceful sit-in outside the Libyan embassy in Damascus. On 23 February a demonstration in Damascus was violently dispersed, amid increasing reports of intimidation in the wake of unrest in neighbouring Arab countries.

On February 22, dozens of people gathered outside the Libyan embassy in Damascus to protest against the Libyan regime and wanted the ambassador to resign. Despite the peaceful message, there were several security officers on site. Everything took a new turn when the protesters started shouting "Corrupt, he who strikes his people", which created nervousness among the security forces who immediately asked people to leave to their homes. On February 23, attempted a professor at the highly screened University of Damascus start a revolt from within the University facilities, but he was met quickly by security police officers who beat him bloody while screaming at him "Do you want to teach? First, learn that al-Assad family are your masters, you child of a whore". The professor was thereafter taken by intelligence men. A short video from the event spread to different websites.A similar video showing the torture of Syrian officers is widely used in social media where participants require a revolution in Syria.

On February 24, a new date for a Syrian "day of rage" was announced on March 15 under the name "the Syrian uprising".

Reaction

On 29 January 2011, news channel Al Arabiya reported that Internet connection was cut off, that was quickly denied by official sources. Al Jazeera reported increased security for the planned "Days of rage". Days before the planned protests, Syrian authorities arrested several political activists, such as businessman Ghassan al-Najar, leader of the Islamic Democratic movement, the writer Ali al-Abdallah, Abbas Abbas, from Syrian Communist Party and several other political personalities of Kurdish backgrounds, such as Adnan Mustafa.

On February 14, blogger and student Tal al-Mallohi was sentenced to five years in prison for spying for the United States. Washington denied these allegations and asked for the release Tal immediately. February 15, under pressure from human rights organizations, the Syrian government released Ghassan al-Najjar, a "veteran Islamist activist" after he went on hunger strike following his arrest for calling for mass protests. February 16, regime critic and director of the Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria (ODFS) Ribal al-Assad, the son of Rifaat al-Assad and cousin to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a press conference in London, where he made it clear that he "does not want to see a Syrian revolution, but a peaceful change of power".

See also

• 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests
• Freedom in the World
• List of freedom indices

Reference

1. "Interview With Syrian President Bashar al-Assad". wsj.com. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
2. "Syria Strongman: Time for 'Reform'". wsj.com. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
3. FOX News opinion.
4. "Information on the death of a young man who burned himself in Al Hasakah". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
5. "Syrian suicider is "Hasan Ali Akleh". Damascus has banned a demonstration in support of Egypt". metransparent.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
6. "Demonstration in Ar-Raqqa, Syria". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
7. "'Day of rage' protest urged in Syria - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - msnbc.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
8. ""Day of Rage" planned for Syria; protests scheduled for Feb 4-5 - aysor.am - Hot news from Armenia". aysor.am. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
9. William R Collier jr (January 30, 2011). "Syrian Anger Day Planned Feb 5, 2011". The Freedomist. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
10. "Syrian Anger Day Planned Feb 5, 2011 | The Freedomist". TOPSY. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
11. "Calls for weekend protests in Syria".
12. "Demonstration on the day of anger in Hasaka and Syrian authorities arrested dozens". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
13. "Q&A: Syrian activist Suhair Atassi". Al Jazeera English. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-13. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
14. "Syria quiet on day of rage". UPI.com. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
15. "Call for Syrian 'day of rage' as planned protests fail to ignite - The Irish Times - Sat, Feb 05, 2011". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
16. Karam, Zeina. "Syria escapes 'Day of Rage' protests - World Wires". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
17. PRESTON, JENNIFER (9 February 2011). "Syria Restores Access to Facebook and YouTube". The New York Times.
18. Jillian York. "Unblocking Syria's social media". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
19. "Syria: 'A kingdom of silence'". aljazeera.net. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
20. MACKEY, ROBERT (February 17, 2011). "Feb. 17 Updates on Middle East Protests". nytimes.com.
21. "After the attack on a young man, beating and humiliation: the hundreds of Syrians demonstrating in Harika". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
22. "Demonstration in Damscus Syria". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
23. "شباب سورية يكتبون شعارات تطالب برحيل بشار أسد ونظامه على جدران المدن الرئيسية". sooryoon.net. 2011/02/19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. ^ "Syria clamps down on dissent with beatings and arrests". The Guardian. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
25. "الاعتصام امام السفارة الليبية دمشق-22-شباط Part 5". Youtube. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. "الاعتصام امام السفارة الليبية دمشق-22-شباط Part 8". Youtube. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. "Syrian intelligence men". Youtube. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. "Why We SHOULD Protest Against Bashar assad? [HQ]". Facebook. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
29. "The Syrian Revolution 2011 الثورة السورية ضد بشار الاسد". Facebook. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
30. "يوم الغضب السوري". Facebook. 2011/02/24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
31. "Internet is Available across Syria". dp-news.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
32. "Arrest of leader of the Islamic Democratic movement in Syria". elaph.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
33. "Transfer of activist Ghassan Najar to Adra prison after being referred for trial". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
34. "Start of the trial exhibits and the Syrian writer Ali Abdullah". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
35. "Jailed prominent Syrian opposition for seven and a half years". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
36. "Syrian authorities detain national identity Adnan Mustafa Abu Ammar". free-syria.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
37. Taylor, Paul (2011-02-16). "Egypt-inspired protests gain pace across region". Reuters.
38. "Opposition leader Ribal Al-Assad is optimistic to changes in Syria". elaph.com. Retrieved 2011-02-16.

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century

• 2011 in Syria
• 2010–2011 Arab world protests
• Protests in Syria
• Politics of Syria