2021: SACD’s Year in Review

Three years after the Syrian regime concluded the reconciliation agreement with the opposition forces in Daraa it keeps breaching it on various fronts. These breaches revealed that the Russian reconciliation agreements have continuously failed to deliver the security and peace promised by the regime. 

In February we analyzed how the deteriorating security situation in Daraa best illustrates the “safe environment” as defined by Russia, and what reality for all of Syria would be if Russia was to “guarantee” safe environment for millions of displaced Syrians.  

In February we launched a series of conversations with current and former officials and experts from countries whose policies have major impact on displaced Syrians, seeking to illuminate some of the key policies, decisions and plans of these countries.  

In the first such interview, Yasin Aktay, a sociologist, social activist, Deputy Chairman of the ruling AK party in Turkey, and chief advisor to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, explains Turkey’s position on a number of issues impacting displaced Syrians, including the prospects of safe and dignified return to Syria, the integration of Syrians in Turkey, Turkey-EU relations on the issue of refugees, and Turkey’s vision of a political solution in Syria. 

The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity released a statement expressing serious concern at the actions of the de-facto authorities of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir Ezzor, which are causing an increase in displacement and insecurity in the area. We noted with concern that the different protests in the region have now become interrelated and that the policies of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Deir Ezzor are increasing the fears among the local population in the area, pushing them to leave their towns and villages. 

SACD asserted that the international institutions and key states involved in the area take note of the effects of the SDF’s arbitrary decision on forced recruitment of teachers in Deir Ezzor and other decisions affecting the local population adversely. 

On the issue of the Syrian sham presidential elections, SACD’s Dr Marwan Nazhan wrote an article titled “Elections in Syria are science fiction without a comprehensive political solution” expressing how it is utterly pointless to discuss any elections held by the Syrian regime as anything but a macabre spectacle where masses are forced to participate in a farce orchestrated by a dictator and the system that keeps him in power. 

In any country with minimal respect citizenship and human rights of its citizens, elections are the primary medium of expressing the will and the voice of the people. For decades, we Syrians have not had circumstances where elections would have any meaning beyond a false legitimization of the Assad regime, first Hafez and then his successor Bashar. 

February 2021 marked the 39th anniversary of the notorious Hama Massacre and SACD published an article to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the massacre, and to remind the world why Syria will never be safe while the Assad regime is still in power. For ever since Hafez al-Assad came to power in 1970, the main features of the security policy used to consolidate his rule in Syria was to exclude all opposition voices and create a loyal militia as one of the main pillars of his rule. Hama province was one of the first Syrian governorates to suffer the effects of this policy built on the exclusion of the majority population in Syria and entrenchment of securitized, sectarian rule.  

Moreover, SACD held an interview with Fernande van Tets, author of ‘Four Seasons in Damascus’ and former communications officer at UNRWA in Damascus, where she explained about UN’s role in Syria, the dilemmas it faces, and whether Syria is safe for return of the displaced. “Personally, I do not feel that any part of Syria is safe to return to at the moment. The protection thresholds for return that the UN set out in 2018 have not been met. The voluntary returns that have taken place show that it is not safe to do so”, van Tets said to SACD. 

Finally, SACD expressed its concern over the Syrian parliament’s decision to pass an amendment to Decree No.11 of 2011 allowing foreigners with residency permits to own property, which raises concerns about Assad regime efforts to change the demographic reality in Syria to achieve its “useful Syria” goal. 

Syrians have contradictory feelings in the month of March. On the eighth of March of 1963, the army seized power in Syria with a political cover from Al-Ba’ath Party and ended the democratic life in Syria, while on the fifteenth of March of 2011 witnessed the rise of the popular demonstrations calling for freedom and democracy, encouraged by the Arab Spring. This eventually turned into an armed confrontation in response to the brutal and unjustified repression by the regime, leading to the displacement of more than half of the Syrian people.  

On the tenth anniversary of the Syrian Revolution, SACD took part in the global commemoration of the day Syrians took it to the streets to demand freedom and dignity.   

On this day, SACD aimed to capture the voices of all Syrians, wherever they were, and convey their dreams of living with freedom and dignity in Syria. As such, our campaign focused on the “Syrian Dream” and “Karama” (dignity). Each voice, idea, and dream, is a pillar to create the safe environment Syrians aimed for from the very first day. This safe environment is the way for Syrians to achieve their goals and hopes they deserve and their rights with the dignity and freedom they have been struggling for during the last 10 years. 

In March, SACD sought to illuminate international community’s inability to achieve a solution to end the Syrian tragedy. We also continued the series of conversations with current and former officials and experts from countries whose policies have major impact on displaced Syrians we set out to discuss some of the key policies, decisions and plans of key countries. 

In a rich, candid interview, Dr. Bente Scheller, Director of the Middle East section in the Heinrich Boell Foundation, who has served in the German embassy in Damascus between 2002-2004 and has written extensively on Syria and the political aspects of the crisis, addressed a wide spectrum of issues, from the process of integration of Syrian refugees in Germany to the analysis of Germany’s vision for the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians, while stressing that “Germany should think about integrating, not returning Syrian refugees.” 

On the occasion of International Womens’ Day, SACD asserted that it is important to shed light on the plight of displaced Syrian women: What caused their displacement? Do they feel safe? Do they want return to their original homes? What needs to be done for them to have a safe and dignified return? Any political solution that does not take women’s specific perceptions into account, or that forces them into a return that is not safe and dignified, could generate strong push factors that drive secondary displacement towards perceived safety. 

On the 18th of April, the Syrian Association for Citizen Dignity launched a public campaign to commemorate the first peaceful sit-in since the outbreak of popular protests more than ten years ago: the New Clock Square sit-in in Homs. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in the main square of Homs and declared a peaceful sit-in, demanding Bashar Assad to resign after the funerals of a number of protesters were shot dead the previous day. 

The commemoration of the Homs New Clock sit-in, the horrific massacre that followed it, and other painful events that the Syrian people have lived, confirms the commitment that our people will continue to pursue their goal of achieving a free and dignified life free of tyranny.  

Four years after the signing of the “Four Towns Agreement”, the Syrian regime and Russia have not held onto their promises and obligations. A group of displaced Syrians from Madaya and Zabadani wrote an article explaining why they do not see any return reasonable or acceptable under the current circumstances. The safe return can only happen if there was reparation and compensation for the harm and loss the people endured, as well as the establishment of a safe and neutral environment, preceded by confidence-building measures such accountability for those who committed crimes and were involved, whether they are local or foreign officials, and the release of the detainees and reveal of the fate of the disappeared. 

The month of April marked the third anniversary of the catastrophic and painful displacement of Douma. After the imposed siege that lasted for years and dozens of attempts by the regime to storm the region and end the presence of the opposition, the Syrian regime, with the support of the Russian forces, began a military campaign that lasted nearly two months. The Russian and regime forces succeeded in taking large parts of eastern Ghouta, which was controlled by opposition groups, and displaced its people to the opposition-controlled areas in northern Syria. 

Mouaz Bowaydani wrote an article explaining that as long as Russia continues to support the regime of Bashar Assad, it is impossible to achieve a safe, neutral and appropriate environment for the dignified, safe, voluntary and sustainable return of the city’s displaced people to their homes and properties, as well as compensation and reparation for them. 

Finally, SACD’s Haya Atassi held a conversation with Marie Forestier, researcher and advisor on refugee and migrant issues at Amnesty International on the latter’s report, which documented cases of Syrian refugees being arbitrarily detained on terrorism-related charges and tortured in Lebanon.  The discussion revolved around the Lebanese state’s responsibility to protect Syrian refugees from being arbitrarily detained, tortured, and falsely accused of terrorism-related charges. It also held that the international community has a moral and humanitarian responsibility to protect Syrian refugees in Lebanon, in line with international treaties on torture, refugee protection, and the principle of non-refoulment. 

The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity dedicated the month of May to present how the regime-held presidential elections in Syria are a mere farce, lacking any legitimacy or credibility in the absence of a comprehensive political solution.  

SACD published ten reasons extensively explaining why elections in Syria are impossible in the current circumstances. The reasons included constitutional, security and logistical impediments to the participation of not only displaced Syrians around the world, but also Syrians living inside Syria, both in opposition-held and regime-held areas. The Association also participated in a global campaign to express rejection of any elections held under the Syrian regime and in absence of a safe environment.  

As part of SACD’s participation in the campaign refusing #TheIllegitimateSyrianElection, Dr Mazen Kseibi, member of SACD Board of Trustees sent a message reminding the world that “Tens of thousands of forcibly disappeared and detained Syrians, and millions of displaced Syrians, cannot vote in these farce elections.” Wassim Al Hajj, member of SACD Board of Trustees, also asserted “There’s no legitimacy to any elections without a comprehensive political solution that fulfills the conditions of the safe environment & removes the main cause of Syrian suffering, which is the Syrian regime.” 

In past years, there has been a documented pattern of Syrian refugees in Lebanon being forced to vote ever since they fled Syria. Many fear backlash, or deportation, if they did not present and vote, which has become an existential issue for them.  

Haya Atassi, from SACD’s public relations team, discussed this issue with Hanna Roberts, an elections expert working with IFES, Vladimir Pran, an electoral advisor, Kareem Chehayeb, a Lebanese journalist who covers Syria and Dr Hala Ghawi, member of SACD Board of Trustees. The discussion focused on the fact that Syria is far away from holding any free and fair elections, and that conducting credible elections in the current circumstances is just science fiction and impossible. Hence, these elections are just an illegitimate exercise in entrenching of the dictatorial rule of this regime. 

SACD member Mounir al-Fakir, who is a a founding partner in the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons of Sednaya Prison and himself a former detainee at Sednaya prison, wrote on his dream of elections in Syria insisting that “talking about elections when there is not even a prospect of a safe environment for all Syrians is not only a waste of time, but in fact dangerous.” 

Al-Fakir explained how there are several obstacles that need to be surpassed in order to hold free and fair elections, where Syrians are not only free to vote but also free to run for office. Such elections require a comprehensive framework that Syrians perceive to be legitimate, which can only be implemented as part of a comprehensive and sustainable political solution that guarantees a safe environment for all Syrians, including the displaced. 

The month of May also witnessed a wave of public demonstrations erupting in various parts of Al-Hasakah governorate as part of inclusive and unique protests following Resolution 119 issued by the Executive Council for Autonomous Administration in Northeast Syria  to raise fuel prices. These demonstrations resulted from poor living conditions, which include the lack of electricity and water, exorbitant food prices, administrative corruption, decision-making being in the hands of foreigner members of the SDF, and the disregard of the interests of Syrian citizens. 

The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity issued a statement stressing that this public movement is a dangerous indication of a situation that has been worsening for a long time, which will inevitably lead to more waves of displacement. Moreover, this situation is exacerbated by the return of ISIS influence in areas and towns under the control of the SDF. All this has been accompanied by the policies of the Autonomous Administration, which is based on corruption, suppression of freedoms and discrimination, while the original people of the region are still refugees in camps in northern Iraq, neighboring countries and Europe. 

On the other hand, SACD has monitored the painful events that led to the displacement of Syrian citizens from the village of Um Batneh in al-Quneitra to northern Syria. SACD was keen on closely following up on the situation with the aim of compiling accurate information from eyewitnesses, and those directly involved, in order to understand the reasons behind their displacement from their original place of residence, as well as the circumstances that led to their arrival to northern Syria. 

As a result, SACD issued a statement to strongly condemn the forced displacement carried out by the Iranian forces against the Syrians in the village of Um Batneh firstly by bombing the village and then arresting and extorting some of its residents. In addition, SACD denounced the way in which some factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) treated the displaced who have reached the northern countryside of Aleppo, and reaffirmed that the crime of forced displacement against the Syrian people continues in Syria, and that the only solution to end the waves of internal displacement and asylum is to create a safe environment for all Syrians. 

Nonetheless, SACD expressed its solidarity with the rights of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and stressed that what’s been happening in Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem, capital of Palestine, is another example of the forced displacement that Palestinians and Syrians alike have been enduring for years, which shows the similarities between authoritarian Assad regime and Israeli Occupation. 

On World Refugee Day, the Syrian Association for Citizen’s Dignity published a detailed overview of how Denmark’s decision to withdraw protection for Syrian refugees from Damascus and its countryside is in breach of Article (3) of the European Convention on Human Rights, UNHCR’s protection thresholds on return and the official position of the European Commission.

The published materials detail the exchange between SACD and the Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration, Mattias Tesfaye, initiated by our efforts to provide evidence that Syria is not safe for returnees, contrary to the assessment of COI reports by the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration and the Danish Immigration Service.

SACD invested significant efforts in advocacy with Denmark authorities and concerned EU bodies to relay how dangerous Danish decision to strip Syrian refugees from protection is and explaining the danger awaiting Syrians should they be forced to return back to an unsafe Syria.

In addition, the Syrian Association for Citizen’s Dignity joined 124 Syrian organizations and networks to reiterate that there is no alternative for the cross-border modality in Syria. All signatories called on the United Nations Security Council member states to renew their commitment to the neutrality of humanitarian assistance and to renew the cross-border resolution.

SACD published true stories among hundreds of stories that document the oppression and harassment faced by Syrian refugees who were forced, due to hard living conditions, to return to areas under the control of the Syrian regime, where one of the returnees warned: “This is a criminal regime that never keeps its promises… Beware, no one should ever believe their words.”

Ghassan Rahmi explains the politics which led to Denmark’s inhumane policy on Syrians and warns that “If the world remains silent, some 35000 Syrians will be in risk of splitting, losing their livelihoods or being forced to flee again. This time with nowhere to go.”

Eight years after its fall, a city in the southern countryside of Homs, Al Qusayr, became Hezbollah’s gateway to Syria and a launching pad for its operations in the country, as well as a most blatant example of the participation of regime’s allies in the policy of demographic change.

During the month of July, SACD worked to move the conversation on humanitarian aid to north-west Syria away from the Russian blackmail at the UN Security Council, clearly demonstrating there is every moral, political and, most importantly, legal argument for the aid to Idlib to continue even if the UNSC approval is withheld. SACD addressed the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and key states involved in discussions on Syria with reasons as to why such aid is legal, and presented its recommendations on the issue.   

 In addition, SACD supported dozens of Syrian organizations who formed a human chain near Bab al-Hawa crossing in support cross-border aid resolution renewal. The closure of this crossing will cause an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and displacement towards Europe and Turkey. The Association also held a campaign under hashtag #AidtoIdlibIsNotIllegal to assert that humanitarian aid is an indispensable rights to all Syrians and must not be politicized nor compromised.  

 Toby Cadman, one of 35 international law experts who in 2014 issued an opinion which establishes why the UN SC approval is not a condition for the aid to opposition-held areas of Syria to be legal, spoke to SACD in support of its advocacz on the issue. In a conversation with Refik Hodzic, he reiterated this position, speaks about the need for greater transparency of the UN OLA and explains the political nature of the paralysis which threatens millions of lives in northern Syria.  

 In a similar conversation with Rebecca Barber, an Australian scholar of international law, we discussed the sources of assumption that the UN SC must approve cross border aid to Idlib, and alternative approaches that could end Russia’s chokehold threatening more than 3 million people with starvation.  

 Amid the horrifying events taking place in Daraa and Idlib, the Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity called on the key countries and the United Nations agencies involved in Syria to urgently elevate the issue of displacement of Syrians and the creation of a safe environment for their safe, voluntary and dignified return to the top of the political discussion on the future of the country.  

 The deteriorating security situation in Daraa illustrated the safe environment as defined by Russia. In that “safe environment” Syrians still suffer from murder, kidnapping, arrest, displacement and death while trying to flee. Daraa continues to show a microcosm of what the reality for all of Syria would be if Russia was to “guarantee” safe environment for milli