ramijarrah.bsky.social
Remnants of a war Journalist | AKA Alexander Page | @CJFE Intl Press Freedom Award
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What’s concerning is the confidence among Syrians that he’ll keep this mask on, perhaps not even realising its a mask, the hardline islamists also believed he was true to the cause (many still), but everything in his record suggests one thing: the cause is expendable, in pursuit of the crown.
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Yet just six months ago, he refused to be photographed with a woman unless she wore a veil, careful not to upset his extremist base. Now, embraced by the liberal camp ushering him toward global acceptance, he no longer needs his old allies, and so that mask, too, can come off.
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to stake a claim to all of Syria, even if it means betraying the very extremists he once marched with. Every shift has served one purpose: sitting on the throne.
He frames it as personal growth, saying: "a man in his 20s won’t think like he does in his 30s, 40s, or 50s."
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It's a fucking ugly choice. On one hand, Syrians are suffering under sanctions; on the other, authoritarianism is being nurtured, with human rights abuses growing unchecked, elevating a culture of impunity. No matter which path is chosen, you're guilty of overlooking one in favor of the other.
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As for my personal reasoning, the suffering of Syrians under sanctions cannot be used as leverage to overlook atrocities. History shows that regimes left unchecked on human rights abuses inevitably grow bolder, exploiting impunity to tighten their grip on power. Silence, therefore, is complicity.
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If the West is serious about protecting human rights in Syria, it must lift these sanctions now, not as a sign of endorsement for the current authorities, but while simultaneously pressing Damascus to take concrete steps to protect civilians, with transparent public & international oversight.
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Meanwhile, whether through incompetence or neglect, Damascus authorities have done little to prevent Syrians from pitting against each other or to advance civil peace. The international community should not be complicit in this failure by pursuing policies that exacerbate divisions and suffering.
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By maintaining sanctions aimed at the Assad regime, the West sends a damaging message to those reporting on the abuses: that speaking up may lead to further hardship, that it might be a better option to shut the fuck up. This dilemma threatens to silence those who seek to protect human life.
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Although this image has already been shared widely, you're right, I'm sorry. I will consider this the next time.
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It is those who challenge the state that create pressure for accountability and enforce checks and balances. Simply believing that the state will voluntarily hold itself accountable without pressure is naive.
A state without opposition is an animal farm.
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Its a good question, but given that 'decentralization' is the elephant in the room, it would be a severe and very careless stumble to make. I cannot think of any other meaning, or how it could be lost in translation.
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Such a fundamental change to the country’s governance cannot be decided by one man, it is simply undemocratic.
Al-Sharaa does not (and should not) have that legitimacy.
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or he has discreetly accepted decentralization and intends to persuade Syrians next.
Either way, it's concerning. Personally, I support some form of decentralization, as I believe it may just be the only way to protect Syria from partition. But again that is a personal take.
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