Far from being a popular leader, some 75 per cent of people in Assad-controlled areas are dissatisfied with the regime's behavior. 89 per cent of the participants reported dissatisfaction with the current situation in all aspects, whether security, living, economy or services. This shows that it is important not to equate those who remained living in Assad's areas of Syria, which people may do for any number of reasons, with loyalty or approval. Moreover, Syria is a cemetery of freedoms: 78 per cent of people in Assad-controlled areas think they do not have freedom of expression, while 85 per cent think that their right to participate in peaceful demonstrations is not protected. Those who are dissatisfied have no way to express it.  

More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of surveyed participants said they were unable to express their opinion freely and show their true positions on key issues (Figure 27). Open criticism of the “Syrian state” rather than the “regime” has increased considerably over the last year due to the collapse of the economy and services, and rising levels of discontent in regime-controlled areas. Despite this, in recent months the government has cracked down and arrested several loyalists for criticizing the current conditions in the country.  

The number of people who felt they were able to freely express their opinion varies according to the type of region, but remains overwhelmingly negative in all areas. It would be impossible to hold any kind of free and fair election with such low levels of free expression. A safe environment in which to express opinions and thoughts is a critical first step to any eventual pathway to democracy and should be factored in to any political settlement.  

“I can't: the evidence is that I don't dare to tell you my full name.”

Peaceful protests 

 The vast majority of participants (85 per cent) believe their right to peacefully demonstrate is not protected (Figure 29). This result confirms that the regime’s position regarding the expression of opinions has not changed, and that the right of assembly is still a red line, despite the fact that the current Syrian constitution guarantees this right. 

“The recent peaceful protests in As-Sweida, during which nothing was broken, even windows, were met with violence and arrests by policemen, security forces, state employees and members of the Syrian Arab Ba'ath Party. In addition, university students in Sweida were forced to confront these demonstrations, and were threatened with dismissal and arrested if they did not comply with orders.”

Achieving a decent life 

 The vast majority (89 per cent) of participants reported dissatisfaction with the current situation in all aspects, whether security, living, economy or services (Figure 50). 

Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of respondents believe it is impossible to achieve a decent standard of living in the current situation, when asked about the security, economy, services and political conditions (Figure 51). Participants were also given the chance to provide their own ideas about the conditions necessary for a decent life, within these four categories. 

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