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.