History
origins
Syria is a country which remains largely divided both ethnically and religiously, consisting of mainly ethnic Arabs and those who follow the Sunni group of Islam. The uprisings and protests began in March known as the Arab Springs, was caused by the tensions of Syria’s strict regime. The Syrian president Bashar al-Assad faced protestors challenging his authority and asking for a democracy, demanding an end to his authoritarian rule. The government placed police, military, and paramilitary forces within the crowds ordered to use violence to stem the protest. The army deployed across the country, shelling and bombing whole neighbourhoods and towns, trying to terrorize people into submission. Eventually, the population began to fight back, opposing the Syrian regime with violence of their own. Opposition militias began to form in 2011, and by 2012 the conflict had expanded into a full-fledged civil war.
current status
Syria operates in a largely centralised presidential government which resulted from the seizure of power led by General Hafez Al Hassad, the former Minister of Defence, who overthrew the previous leaders in 1970. During his period of rule, an inequality gap in the population emerged, caused by free market policies. Furthermore, human rights were neglected as rights of free expression, association and assembly were strictly controlled in Syria even before the uprising.
As Syria’s leader passed away in 2000, his son Bashar Al Assad stepped up to power. Initially he was perceived by the domestic and international community as a potential reformer, embracing democratic rule. However, this expectation ceased after the short lived 2001 Damascus Spring and began to follow in the footsteps of his father by tightening up free expression and abusing human rights. Following years of being repressed, thousands of people protested on the streets for reform, inspired by many other Arab springs. Bashar Al Assad was consolatory initially, however as protests grew in size and numbers, Assad eventually resorted to violence by ordering military to open fire to the thousands of peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds and arresting more. Thus, a peaceful resolution was now out of question as rebel groups armed themselves and took to the street to retaliate against the regime. The rebels were outmatched, with a lack of equipment or a lasting goal with the only commonality being the hate of their ruler, Bashar Al Assad. During their effort to regain power, many have been displaced and damaged leaving many to wonder whether the cure is worse than the disease.
Three years after it began, the full-blown civil war has killed over 190,000 people, half of whom are believed to be civilians. The U.N. estimates that over 6.5 million people are internally displaced, of which two million were recorded in the last six months. Of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, half is need of urgent humanitarian and foreign assistance. Approximately 2.5 million people have sought asylum according to the United Nations of which 1.5 million of those fled in the past year – a staggering 4,110 a day. Syria's neighbours are poorly equipped to deal with the influx, and humanitarian agencies face huge funding shortfalls.
As Syria’s leader passed away in 2000, his son Bashar Al Assad stepped up to power. Initially he was perceived by the domestic and international community as a potential reformer, embracing democratic rule. However, this expectation ceased after the short lived 2001 Damascus Spring and began to follow in the footsteps of his father by tightening up free expression and abusing human rights. Following years of being repressed, thousands of people protested on the streets for reform, inspired by many other Arab springs. Bashar Al Assad was consolatory initially, however as protests grew in size and numbers, Assad eventually resorted to violence by ordering military to open fire to the thousands of peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds and arresting more. Thus, a peaceful resolution was now out of question as rebel groups armed themselves and took to the street to retaliate against the regime. The rebels were outmatched, with a lack of equipment or a lasting goal with the only commonality being the hate of their ruler, Bashar Al Assad. During their effort to regain power, many have been displaced and damaged leaving many to wonder whether the cure is worse than the disease.
Three years after it began, the full-blown civil war has killed over 190,000 people, half of whom are believed to be civilians. The U.N. estimates that over 6.5 million people are internally displaced, of which two million were recorded in the last six months. Of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, half is need of urgent humanitarian and foreign assistance. Approximately 2.5 million people have sought asylum according to the United Nations of which 1.5 million of those fled in the past year – a staggering 4,110 a day. Syria's neighbours are poorly equipped to deal with the influx, and humanitarian agencies face huge funding shortfalls.