Figure 1.--. |
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The Syrian Arab Republic is controlled by the Ba'ath Party. It has an atrocious human rights record, in large measure stemming from the Ba'ath's one-party rule. Under the Syrian Constitution the Ba'ath Party is designated as the ruling party. It is a crime in Syria to work against the Ba'ath in Syria. This included not violent political organization. The Government declared a state of emergency (1963). This state of emergency is still in effect. The Government restricts freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. The Ba'ath is controlled by the Assad family. There is also a system of Government sponsored coruption that benefits the Assad's and their cirrcle of supporters which has had a significant impact on the economy.
Syria is a modern state dating from the post-World War II era, but there isa long historical tradition. The Syrians trace their state back to the Assyrians. Pompey the Great annexed Selucid Syria for Rome (64 AD). The Romans added the Nabatean kingdom to its Syrian province (106). This meant Antioch, one of the great cities of the Middle East. When the Roman Empire was split, Syria became a province of the Eastern Empire which evolved into the Byzantine Emoire (395 AD). Islamic Arab armies seized Syria from Byzantium becoming part of the new Islamic Caliphate (636). The Ottoman Turks conquered Syria (1516). At this time the Ottomans established their control over much of the Arab world. The Ottomans controlled Syria for the following four centuries. At first Ottoman rule was progressive and resulted in economic progress. The Ottomons pemitted a degree of autonomy which varied over time. Gradually conditions in Syria and other Arab areas deteriorated, becoming backward and poor in comparison to Europe. Egypt under Mohammed Ali after the Napoleonic Wars began to exet its independence from Ottoman rule. Egypt conquers Syria (1831). The Great Powers (Britain and Austria) force the Egyptians tobwithdraw from Syria (1840). Islamic mobs massacre Christians in Damascus (1860).
The French and British open the Suez Canal (1869). This largely replaces overland trade routes and thus adversely affected Syria economically. As a result of World War I, Syria came under French control, but achieved independence after World War II. The country's independent history has been dominated by the conflict with Israel. The country had dabled with Arab socialism and union with Egypt. The Ba'ath Party gradually gained influence and estanlished one-party rule in the country under Hafez al-Assad, the defense minister (1970). Assad has established asystem of state corruption which has left the country economically destitute and a backwater of the world economy. Upon his death he was replaced by his son, Bashar al-Assad (2000). After a brief experiment with political liberalization, Bashar has essentially continued with his father's policy of authoritarian rule and state corruption.
The Syrian Arab Republic is controlled by the Ba'ath Party. It has an atrocious human rights record, in large measure stemming from the Ba'ath's one-party rule.
Under the Syrian Constitution the Ba'ath Party is designated as the ruling party. It is a crime in Syria to work against the Ba'ath in Syria. This included not violent political organization. The Government declared a state of emergency (1963). This state of emergency is still in effect. The Government uses the virtually unrestricted police powers to attack any potential political opposition. The Syrian government experimented with political liberalization in an initiative known as the Damascus Spring (2000-01). The Government briefly permitted independent debating clubs. More individuals were allowed to install satellite dishes to receive international broadcasts rather than being restricted to state-controlled media. Internet cafés were set up. The Government allowed independent print publications. The Government released numerous political detainees. Apparently the Govrnment hadcsecond thoughts about this opening and issued Decree No. 50/2001. This placed renewed restrictions on the media, particularly the print media.
The Government restricts freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. The Syrian presx is one of the most tightly controlled in the Aranb world. [Arab Press Freedom Watch] And of course the Arab world is not a region noted for press freedom.
The Government declared a state of emergemcy (1963). This is still in effect and give the security forces almost unlimited power. Security forces are responsible for extensive, serious human rights abuses.
These include arbitrary arrest and detention, torture of setainees, and prolonged detention without trial.
There are no guarantees or expectation of privacy under Syrian law.
The Syrian Government imposes some limits on religious freedom.
The Syrian governent engages in the systematic discrimination of the Kurdish minority.
Coruption is often not on a list of human rights. It is, howver, a major problem around the world and often bleeds often limited gvernmnt resources needed to ddress problems like health care and education which are major human rights. Corruption also affects the ability of indivuduals to make a living, another central human rights. Corruption is a serious problem in Syria. The Ba'ath is controlled by the Assad family. There is also a system of Government sponsored coruption that benefits the Assad's and their cirrcle of supporters>
The police and security forces are deeply embeded in the system of state coruption. The extensive corruption has had a significant impact on the economy.
There is no independent judiciary in Syria. The judicial system is in effect an extension of security services. Trials in the security courts are fundamentally unfair with no real rights accorded indivduals accussed of offenses. Security forces can detain suspects incommunicado and without any legal process. The trials that are held are conducted under procedures that would not be considered fair under internationally accepted standards. Syrian prison conditions are poor and authorities do not provide international standards for health and sanitation.
One of the human rights concerns with Syria is its detention of individuals on political charges and treatment of those prisoners. Besides poor sanitation and health conditions, authorities sometimes put political prisoners with violent criminal offenders. Syrian authorities target a range of political groups, this includes individuals interestedc in democratic reforms to Uslamic fundamentalist groups which object to the largely secular nature of the Syrian regime. The security forces havectargeted the Muslim Brotherhood, unauthorized Kurdish political organizations, the Hizb al-Tahrir Islamic Liberation Party, the pro-Iraqi Baath Party, and Islamic activists with suspected al Qaeda links. One concern with Syria is its detention of Lebanese citizens during its occupation of Lebanon. Several thousand individuals are involved. This apparently includes both Communists and Muslim Brotherhood members. This is in addition to about 4,000 political prioners. [Syrian Human Rights Committee]
Amnesty International. Amnesty International Report 2003.
Arab Press Freedom Watch.
Syrian Human Rights Committee. Syria: Events of 2006.
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