بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | يناير 3, 2018 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundup Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Assad: Syria is ‘Looking East’ to Russia for Economic, Cultural Relations (19 December 2017) Syrian president speaks on trade relationship with Moscow and Russian-led efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.
Local brews make comeback in Syria (19 December 2017) When war broke out in 2011, Syria’s two main breweries halted production. However, as fighting has subsided across much of the country this year, a new pair of local lagers has hit the markets.
Syria Condemns U.S. Veto Against UNSC Draft Resolution on Jerusalem (20 December 2017) The U.S. blocked a U.N. resolution calling for the withdrawal of Washington’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital.
Salvation Govt Bans Entry of Russian Goods to Opposition Areas (20 December 2017) Statement by the Idleb-based government contradicts border administration’s move allowing the entry of Russian products
Aleppo city, one year after the final battle (21 December 2017) “As the December 22 anniversary of the end of the battle approaches, Syria Direct spoke with nine Aleppo residents both inside and outside the city. Residents inside describe a city stitched back together at the seams after a years-long divide, but still disjointed. Others evacuated one year ago are now marking a painful first anniversary of what they consider exile. All are working to rebuild their lives.”
Regional and International Perspectives
Russian soldiers in Damascus: politics isn’t everything (4 December 2017) While politics is the reason for Russian military presence in Syria, the relationship between Russian soldiers and Syrian civilians is not fundamentally about politics
How Syria’s White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine (18 December 2017) The Russia-backed campaign to link the volunteer rescuers with al-Qaida exposes how conspiracy theories take root: ‘It’s like a factory’
Restructuring the State: Possible Power-Sharing Agreements for Syria (20 December 2017) As world powers continue diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a settlement to the conflict in Syria, Lebanese political science expert Imad Salamey discusses the essential elements of possible power-sharing arrangements in the war-torn country.
China Eyes Role Rebuilding Syria While Putin Spars With West (21 December 2017) Chinese firms see ‘huge business potential’ in reconstruction. U.S., EU withhold funds as they seek to keep pressure on Assad.
Pentagon: Russia intentionally violating Syria conflict agreement (21 December 2017) The Defense Department is accusing Russia of intentionally violating an agreement meant to avoid military accidents in the skies over Syria following an incident last week involving U.S. and Russian fighter jets.
What Went Wrong in Syria? (21 December 2017) In this edition of The Interview, Fair Observer talks to Ambassador Robert Ford about what went wrong with the US effort in Syria and what is next in the unresolved tragedy of the Syrian Civil War.
Insurgents Again: The Islamic State’s Calculated Reversion to Attrition in the Syria-Iraq Border Region and Beyond (21 December 2017) Hassan Hassan writes: “The border region between Iraq and Syria divided by the Euphrates River was long expected to be the Islamic State’s last stand, but many of its fighters there melted away instead.”
Is the Assad Regime Preparing for War Against the SDF? (21 December 2017) Syria’s deputy foreign minister recently conflated the Western-backed group with ISIS during a television interview.
Assad Regime Still Reliant on Fractions of the Sunni Bourgeoisie (21 December 2017) Joseph Daher argues “the complex network of relations between the power elite, and fractions of the Sunni bourgeoisie, has remained part of the regime’s tools to dominate society and build loyalties among this sector.”
Syria war winds down but tangled map belies conflict ahead (22 December 2017) Zeina Karam comments on how the Syrian war is winding down on one level, but with no foreseeable future for ending the violent future.
Russia finds neutral zones in Syria essential but tricky (22 December 2017) Moscow hopes to focus soon on rebuilding Syria’s shattered infrastructure, but first must help restore stability, which could prove much more difficult.
Policy and Reports
Al-Qaeda versus ISIS: Competing Jihadist Brands in the Middle East (November 2017) By the close of 2017, al- Qaeda’s rebranding has successfully allowed the group to expand its footprint in a number of Middle Eastern civil wars at the cost of its central authority. ISIS, meanwhile, has lost most of its territory but retains the ideological strength to inspire attacks abroad.
A Bureaucracy of Violence in Syria’s Military Intelligence-Run Prisons (20 December 2017) Syrian military intelligence-run detention centers are responsible for some of the worst crimes committed by the security apparatus. Their highly bureaucratic operations, however, have helped build bodies of evidence against high-level officials.
In absence of fresh military conflict, journalist killings decline again (21 December 2017) Iraq and Syria are the “deadliest” for reporters this year. At least 15 journalists were killed while covering the ongoing conflicts in these two Middle Eastern countries.
Deeply Talks: Diplomacy and Deadlock in Syria (21 December 2017) As international powers push for a settlement for the Syrian conflict, Syria Deeply talks with AUB Senior Fellow Rami Khoury and Al-Monitor Russia Coverage editor Max Suchkov about the prospects and challenges of a peace deal.
Women Face Rape as Weapon of War in Deir-ez-Zor (22 December 2017) At least five women raped by pro-government forces and Kurdish militias in recent weeks, local monitoring group reports
The Shifting Role of Women in Syria’s Economy (22 December 2017) The Syrian war has transformed women’s role in the workforce, giving way to opportunities previously reserved for men. As women take on more responsibility and autonomy, for many opportunity does not mean equality.
Congress uses Syria aid funding as Assad leverage (28 December 2017) As the war in Syria cools down, the cold war to fund Syria’s reconstruction projects is heating up and Washington is hoping to use US assistance as economic leverage to force political concessions from Damascus.
How the Security Council Failed the Syria Chemical Weapons Investigators and Victims (29 December 2017) Edmond Mulet, the former head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, write about how the Security Council Failed the Syria Chemical Weapons Investigators and Victims.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Syria: Eastern Ghouta Situation Overview – Rural Damascus, Syria (November 2017) “Access to Eastern Ghouta improved slightly in November. Commercial movement into the area resumed, after no commercial deliveries reportedly took place in September or October. A number of humanitarian aid deliveries took place, and aid that entered in October was distributed. However, these deliveries were insufficient to counter the unprecedented price increases in Eastern Ghouta. In November, a standard food basket was reportedly 911% more expensive than in nearby areas not considered besieged or hard-to-reach”
A “Nation in Pieces”: Views from Syrians in Exile (30 November 2017) This report showcases the voices of Syrians who left because of the war, for whom national belonging is a complex sentiment. Extended narrative interviews over the course of three months with Syrians living in Lebanon, Europe, and the United States reveal a multitude of viewpoints but a common conviction that there is no place for them in their homeland’s future.
Illustrations, Graphic Journalism Create Alternative Narratives and Historical Documents (6 December 2017) Notwithstanding the overload of photographs especially through social media, there has in recent years also been a growing use of illustration to raise awareness, inform audiences and to tell stories. NGOs have been making use of this much more artisanal medium, to capture and recount Syrian refugees’ lives. An article by Nathalie Rosa Bucher.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here: الرسوم والصحافة التصويرية تمثل روايات بديلة ووثائق تاريخية
Mom Don’t Worry I’ll Be a Martyr Soon (December 15 2017) The story of Malek, whose mother never wanted him to join a pro-regime paramilitary force.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here: وجه مالك المفقود (4)
مقال مصور: الغوطة الشرقية تموت ببطء والعالم يكتفي بالمشاهدة (December 20 2017)صوّر الناشط الإعلامي أسامة العمري، أحد سكان دوما، شوارع عاصمة الغوطة الشرقية وتحدث مع الأهالي الذين يستعدون لشتائهم الخامس تحت الحصار.
Roundtable: Has Bashar al-Assad won the war in Syria? (December 22 2017) More than six years of the Syrian civil war have changed the country – and the region – forever. Even if President Assad remains in power, he’ll be ruling a very different society; a nation divided. In the face of monumental violence and huge international pressure – what – or indeed who, has managed to keep him from being toppled? How secure does he now look?
Samar Yazbek’s Syrian Voices a Contribution to History (December 25 2017) Gareth Chantler writes about Samar Yazbek’s ‘A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution’ as a contribution to the history of the Syrian Uprising.
Berlin’s Syrian poet: ‘More than just a refugee’ (December 29 2017) Acclaimed poet Widad Nabi speaks about her journey from Aleppo to Germany, the struggles she faced, and the power of writing.
Maps
Syria Conflict Mapping Project Reports
Weekly Conflict Summary- December 14-20, 2017.
The ISIS-held pocket in northern Hama governorate continues to grow, with both ISIS and government forces advancing northward into the Idleb pocket. Though political conflict continues between the opposition’s alternate civilian structures – the Salvation Government and the Syrian Interim Government (SIG), armed opposition groups in the Idleb pocket have begun to implement elements of a reconciliation agreement. In southern Syria, fighting has erupted throughout much of Daraa and Quneitra governorates, with government forces advancing in the Beit Jinn pocket near the Golan Heights. In response to mounting violence, opposition armed groups in the south have formed a new joint operations room.
Arabic Links:
للاجئون السوريون في روسيا يستميتون لتحصيل حقوقهم (December 12 2017)ينشر هذا النص ضمن ملف يتناول تداعيات التدخل الروسي في الحرب السورية على المستوى اﻻجتماعي واﻻقتصادي في كلا البلدين، وهو ينشر بالتعاون مع أوبن ديموكراسي روسيا.
الملابس المستعملة بديل عن الحطب والمازوت في شمال غرب سوريا (December 12 2017) يلجأ أهالي مناطق شمال غرب سوريا، الخاضعة لسيطرة المعارضة، إلى حرق الملابس المستعملة للحصول على التدفئة كبديل أقل تكلفة من الحطب والمازوت، في الشتاء.
الأكراد يكرّسون الفدراليّة بدعمها في انتخابات محلّيّة(December 13 2017) يستعدّ الأكراد في سوريا إلى تشكيل اتّحاد فدراليّ لشمال سوريا بإجراء انتخابات محلّيّة، تشمل البلديّات ومجالس المحافظة، في جغرافيا تسيطر عليها قوّات سوريا الديمقراطيّة يقودها مقاتلون أكراد. بينما يعلن مجلس سوريا الديمقراطيّة عن مشاركة أحزاب مختلفة ومكوّنات متعدّدة في الانتخابات، ويغيب عن المشاركة المجلس الوطنيّ الكرديّ كطرف مناهض للسلطات المحلّيّة، مع اعتراض من قبل المعارضة السوريّة التي تتّهم حزب الاتّحاد الديمقراطيّ بالهيمنة على المنطقة، وبالتزامن مع رفض إقليميّ في موقف تركيا التي هدّدت أخيراً باقتحام عفرين في ريف حلب، عدا لقاءات تركيّة تجري مع روسيا وإيران لوقف التمدّد الكرديّ.
The English version of this article can be found here: Syrian Kurds press on with elections despite divisions
جدل التعليم في زمن الحرب السورية (December 14 2017) في هذا التقرير يرصد معتز الحناوي وباسيليوس زينو الجدل الذي دار حول المناهج الدراسية الجديدة وتداعياته وردود الأفعال في سورية والإعلام.
درع الفرات: مجلس مارع العسكريّ يفتتح معبراً تجاريّاً مع قوّات سوريا الديمقراطيّة (December 14 2017) افتتح المجلس العسكريّ في مدينة مارع الواقعة في منطقة درع الفرات في ريف حلب الشماليّ، معبراً تجاريّاً مع المناطق التي تسيطر عليها قوّات سوريا الديمقراطيّة في جنوب شرق المدينة في 1 كانون الأوّل/ديسمبر 2017، ويسمّى المعبر التجاريّ باسم “معبر الطويحينة”، وذلك نسبة للبلدة التي يقع في القرب منها. ويفصل المعبر يفصل بين قرى يسيطر عليها الجيش الحر في درع الفرات وبين قرى تسيطر عليها قوات سوريا الديمقراطية.
The English version of this article can be found here: FSA opens new business crossing in northern Syria
العودة إلى الصفر.. جامعات النظام لا تعترف بشهادات طلاب جامعات المعارضة (December 15 2017) أنشأت الحكومة المؤقتة في المعارضة جامعة حلب الحرة في أواخر عام ٢٠١٥، مع كليات في مدينة حلب وفروع في مناطق سوريا التي تسيطر عليها المعارضة، وقبل استعادة النظام لكامل أجزاء حلب في كانون الأول ٢٠١٦، كانت كليات الحقوق والآداب والشريعة في الجامعة تقع في المناطق الشرقية التي تسيطر عليها المعارضة.وعندما استعاد النظام السيطرة عليها، توقفت الكليات الموجودة في شرق حلب عن عملها، حينها وجد الطلاب الذين بقوا في المدينة أن شهاداتهم الممنوحة من المعارضة غير مجدية الآن.
نبكي ونضحك.. من قلب البحر والقوارب المطاطية (December 17 2017) تتنوع الأحاديث، ولسوريا حصة كبيرة منها، كما الذكريات، وتأخذ رحلة اللجوء أيضاً حيزاً متواصلاً من الحكايات التي يسردها الأصدقاء والصديقات، بما في ذلك رحلات البحر القاسية.
«رجل أعمال» متوارٍ عن الأنظار: موسم «صيد الحيتان» يبدأ في حلب؟ (December 17 2017)بتوجيهات من وزارة الداخليّة حمي في خلال الأيام الماضية وطيس التحقيقات في ملف تزوير ورشوة وإتلافٍ للآثار في حلب القديمة. تعود جذور الملف إلى ما قبل الحرب، لكنّ ملابساته بدأت في التكشف قبل شهر فحسب. المتهمون كثرٌ، وأشهرهم «رجل أعمال» ذاع صيتُه في العامين الأخيرين. وتعرض «الأخبار» خلاصات ضبوطات التحقيقات الجارية، وتفاصيلها، وبعض ما يدور في الكواليس
يواجه النازحون شتاء قاسياً في مخيّمات ريف حلب الشماليّ (December 18 2017) خلال الأشهر الماضية، وصل الآلاف من النازحين المدنيّين من مختلف المدن السوريّة من جرّاء المعارك التي دارت في مدينة الرقّة، والتي تدور في محافظة دير الزور وفي ريف حماه الشرقيّ، إلى مخيّمات اللجوء في ريف حلب الشماليّ كون المنطقة تعتبر آمنة نسبيّاً، لكنّ القدرة الاستيعابيّة للمخيّمات في شمال مدينة حلب لم تتمكّن من استيعاب جميع هؤلاء النازحين، الأمر الذي اضطرّ العديد منهم إلى التجمّع في الأراضي الزراعيّة المحيطة بالمخيّمات المنظّمة وإنشاء مخيّمات عشوائية لا تمتلك أدنى مقوّم من مقوّمات الحياة، إذ تنعدم مياه الشرب ووسائل التدفئة، مع غياب تامّ للمنظّمات الإنسانيّة
The English version of this article can be found here: Syria’s internally displaced in dire need of aid
“خفض التوتر” جنوبي سوريا.. 4 مصالح أردنية يهددها تحديان (December 19 2017) لعب الأردن دوراً واضحاً في رسم الخطوات الأولى، التي مهدت الطريق لتطبيق “مناطق خفض التوتر”، بعد الاتفاق الذي أعلنه مع الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وروسيا، في يوليو/تموز الماضي، والقاضي بوقف إطلاق النار بين قوات النظام وقوات المعارضة جنوب غربي سوريا.
إيقاف برنامج مراقبة الاحتياجات والسكان في سوريا: الحرمان من المعلومات كأداة تجويع (December 20 2017) تشغلُ مسألة النزوح واللجوء موقعاً أساسياً في خطاب «النصر الكبير» لدى النظام وحلفائه، ويبدو أن لها دوراً مركزياً في تسويق رواية «المنتصرين» في الحرب السورية، وعلى وجه الخصوص رؤيتهم لما يُفترَض أن يكون عليه «الحل السياسي».
هل سيعرقل خفض القوّات الروسيّة في سوريا الحلّ السياسيّ؟ (December 21 2017) في 11 ديسمبر/ كانون الأول أعلنت روسيا، للمرّة الثانية، نيّتها تقليل عدد قوّاتها العسكريّة العاملة في سوريا بعدما بدأت تدخّلاً عسكريّاً في 30 أيلول/سبتمبر 2015. المرّة الأولى كانت في آذار/مارس 2016 أي بعد حوالى ستّة أشهر على بدء الحملة الجوّيّة، لكنّ كثافة الغارات في ما بعد عبر القاذفات الاستراتيجيّة والصواريخ على المناطق التي تسيطر عليها المعارضة، والمكاسب التي حقّقها النظام جرّاء ذلك على الأرض، أثارت الشكوك لديها ولدى المجتمع الدوليّ، حول جدّيّة هذا الانسحاب.
The English version of this article can be found here: Syrian opposition skeptical of Russian troop pullout
هدوء حذر في عفرين على وقع تهديدات تركية (December 22 2017) بحسب تقارير إعلامية، أرسل الجيش التركي مزيدا من الحشود العسكرية على طول الحدود مع سوريا المقابلة لمنطقة عفرين، في حين تأخذ القوى السياسية الكردية والعسكرية التهديدات التركية على محمل الجد.
هيئة تحرير الشام تفرغ القطع الأثرية من متحف إدلب وتنقلها إلى جهة مجهولة (December 24 2017) ذكرت مصادر خاصة لشبكة “شام” الإخبارية، أن هيئة تحرير الشام أفرغت كامل القطع الأثرية والمقتنيات الموجودة في متحف مدينة إدلب خلال الأيام الماضية ونقلتها إلى جهة مجهولة، تم ذلك بشكل سري دون علم الموظفين في المتحف أو أي جهة أخرى.
لا شيء سورياً في هذه الحرب سوى القتلى (December 25 2017) النظام ليس بخير، ولن يتمكن من حكم السوريين إلا إذا كانت الحرب أفقاً لتنظيم علاقته بهم. الانسحاب من الحرب ومن المفاوضات، هو انسحاب أيضاً من النظام بصفته مستقبل سورية. لا يبدو أن في يد السوريين ورقة أخرى.
أربع معلومات عن بيت جن.. آخر معاقل المعارضة في الغوطة الغربية (December 26 2017) على الرغم من نفي الفصائل العسكرية العاملة في المنطقة القبول باتفاق الخروج إلى إدلب، قالت وسائل إعلام النظام إن الجيش أوقف عملياته العسكرية كخطوة أولى لتنفيذ اتفاق الخروج.
سقوط منطقة بيت جن: قرى جبل الشيخ بيد دمشق (December 27 2017) سقط جيب بيت جن، آخر معاقل المسلحين في غوطة دمشق الغربية، بيد الجيش السوري. نحو مئة يوم من المعارك الضارية، أفضت إلى استسلام مسلحي المنطقة، ومطالبتهم بالتفاوض للخروج. المشروع الإسرائيلي في محيط جبل الشيخ سقط. فمن دعمهم العدو بكل ما استطاع، باتوا اليوم يعدّون أنفسهم للخروج بشروط الدولة السورية
الحكومة: صرفنا 36 مليار ليرة لتأهيل خدمات حلب (December 28 2017) كشف تقرير حكومي أن عدد المنشآت المنتجة حالياً في المدينة الصناعية الشيخ نجار بلغ 430 منشأة بطاقة إنتاجية تتجاوز 75% من الطاقة الإنتاجية التصميمة لهذه المنشآت بعد أن كانت 25% في العام الماضي إضافة إلى تخصيص 285 مقسماً وتسليم 267 مقسماً في جميع الفئات.
تركيا: إزالة لافتات المحال السورية في أضنة لأنها تعرقل عملية الحفاظ على اللغة التركية (December 28 2017) أزالت قوات الشرطة، التابعة لبلدية محافظة أضنه الكبرى، اللافتات والملصقات العربية، الخاصة بمطاعم، ومحال السوريين التجارية المنتشرة في المدينة.
سوريا 2017: «تجميد» القتال وتلاشي «داعش» بانتظار الحل الروسي (December 29 2017) تبدأ سنة 2018، باجتماعين. الأول، مفاوضات جنيف في 21 يناير (كانون الثاني). الثاني، مؤتمر الحوار الوطني السوري في سوتشي يومي 29 و30 يناير. موسكو تضغط على المعارضة كي تحضر سوتشي بشروط موسكو وقبول الرئيس الأسد واقتصار الحديث عن تشكيل لجنة دستورية كي يشكل هذا نصراً كبيراً لبوتين قبل انتخاباته في 28 مارس (آذار) للبناء على لقـــــاءيه الأسد في سوتشي وحميميم الأسابيع الماضية، ولقــــــائه (بوتين) مع نظيريه التركي والإيراني في نوفمبر.
كليات جامعة الفرات في الحسكة مغلقة: «لا لتدخّل الإدارة الكردية» (December 29 2017) أغلق فرع جامعة الفرات في الحسكة، كليات طب الأسنان، والهندسة الزراعية، والعلوم، والهندسة المدنية، والاقتصاد، وعلّق الدوام والامتحانات في كليتَي الآداب والتربية، مبرراً ذلك باعتداءات «شبيبة روج آفا» على الكليات، وانتهاكها لاتفاقات سابقة بين إدارة الجامعة و«الإدارة الذاتية» الكردية.
الجيش السوري يصل إلى «أبو دالي» في ريف إدلب (December 29 2017) بينما تنشط موسكو في تحضيراتها لمؤتمر «الحوار الوطني» المقرر في سوتشي، يواصل الجيش السوري عملياته في ريفي حماة وإدلب، وصولاً إلى بلدة أبو دالي في ريف إدلب الجنوبي الشرقي، بعد أكثر من شهرين على انسحابه منها
ام سقوط «داعش»: تحولات عسكريّة كبرى… و«ستاتيكو» سياسي (December 30 2017) شهد العام المنصرم حدثاً مفصليّاً في سوريا، هو تقويض الوجود العسكري لتنظيم «داعش». ما أسفر في الوقت نفسه عن ازدياد المساحة الخاضعة لسلطة الحكومة السورية، وازدياد رقعة سيطرة «قسد». في مقابل انحسار كبير لمناطق سيطرة المجموعات المسلّحة وانخفاضٍ ملحوظٍ لتأثيرها العسكري. على أنّ التطورات العسكريّة لم تواكب بتحول يُذكر في المشهد السياسي، ليبقى الملف السوري مفتوحاً على احتمالاتٍ كثيرة لا سيّما في شمال وشرق البلاد
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Hussam Jefee-Bahloul | نوفمبر 30, 2017 | Roundtables, غير مصنف
“تعرّفتُ على (غيرهارد) فوراً من مجموعة الصور“، تقول (جادڤيكا) وهي تدلي بشهادتها أمام الرائد (آرثر كيث مانت). “هو الرقم 3. رأيته في الردهة قبل أن أُجبَرَ على الدخول إلى غرفة العمليات، و رأيته بعدها مرتين مع الأطباء عند تغيير ضماد رجلي اليمنى.” تكمل قائلة: “ذلك الصباح، كانوا قد أخذونا إلى مكان العمليات ولم نكن نعرف السبب. كان السؤال الوحيد الذي يدور في أذهاننا هو: ما الذي سيحصل لنا الآن؟ جعلونا نستحم و نبدل ثيابنا إلى ثياب مستشفى. حاولتُ أن أقاوم، أن أركل، و لكن ممرضتين قامتا بتقييدي أرضاً. لا أذكر ما الذي جرى بعدها، و لكن سرعان ما أصابتني الحمى في الأيام الثلاثة التالية. كانوا قد أجروا عملا جراحيا على رجلي اليمنى. كنت مضمدة من القدم إلى الركبة اليمنى. لم تكن تلك المرة الوحيدة التي يقومون فيها بِبَضْعِ رجلي اليمنى. قاموا بعملية ثانية بعد عدة أسابيع“.
في شهادة رسمية بتاريخ 12 آب عام 1946 تحدثت (جادڤيكا كامينسكا) عن تفاصيل العمليات الجراحية التي أُجبرت عليها من قبل النازيين، هي ومجموعة من المعتقلات الشابات في رافنسبروك. قصة جادڤيكا تبدأ باعتقالها في 24 سبتمبر 1941، حتى وصولها إلى رافنسبروك حيث بقيت خمس سنوات قبل خروجها من المعسكر في نيسان 1946. في الشهادة تفاصيل مرعبة عن عمليات استئصال تجريبية لعضلات وعظام وأنسجة عصبية من المعتقلات الإناث السليمات جسدياً. في الشهادة لطخات دم من جرح بطول 10 سنتيمتر وعرض 5 سنتيمتر تمَّ بأمر من الغستابو. من يقرأ الشهادة لن يعرف الكثير من التفاصيل. و لكن صورة الانتهاك وتفاصيله جليّة بشكل يصبح أمامها السؤال عن التفاصيل الجانبية أمرا غير ذي أهمية. فمن هو (غيرهارد) مثلاً، غير شخصية ربما شاركت في انتهاك الكثيرات و قسرهنّ. شبح لشخص يختصر منظومة أخلاقية محددة.
التهتُّك
بقلم حبر عريض علّم الجرّاح مكان انتهاكه على الجلد. وعندما لامس المبضع سطح الجلد المتألق الرطب انساب عبر الأنسجة، طبقة طبقة وابتعدت نقاط الحبر المرسومة على الجلد عن بعضها البعض. انكمشت أطراف الجرح وابتعدت. تقطبت الدماء في جهتين كانتا من قبل على خط التحام. انتزاع اللحم وسّع المسافة بين هذه الأقطاب. مثل جسد جادڤيكا، شقّت الحرب العالمية الثانية أنسجة المجتمعات. تجمّعت عناصر الطيف المتجاورة سابقا، في معسكرين. صار “الاستئصال” الفكري والجسدي عادة. ولكن كيف يمكن لأي مجتمع أن يتبنّى فكرة ضد–المجتمع كهذه، أي فكرة أن يصير المجتمع متجانساً؟
إنّ “التجانس” القسري حاضر ضمن الجماعات السورية اليوم، وهو يعكس غياب هوية تمتد تفرّدها من الطيف المركّب، المعقد، والمتنوع تشريحياً. السنوات السبع الماضية وما حملته من تغيير في الهوية السورية، أرخت، ولا شك، بظلالها على مفهوم الأنا ومفهوم الوطن عند السوري وتأثيرها سيستمر لعقود. لدى مراجعة ما كتبه (آرثر كلاينمان) و دعاه بـ “المعاناة الجمعّية” خاصة في ما يتعلّق باستجابة المجتمعات للفظائع والكوارث والحروب، تُرهِقُني كمية الشغل الذي نحتاجه لنحلل “معاناتنا الجمعية” هذه، ونؤسس لمقاربتها. وحتى لو تراجع تواتر العنف الجسدي مستقبلاً، فهذا لن يعني بالضرورة أن مظاهر العنف أو الإنشقاق أو الصراع على القوة، المتبدّي على شكل صراع بين منظومتين من القيم الأخلاقية (أو أكثر)، سيكون في تراجع.
بالعودة إلى (جادڤيكا)، قد يتساءل البعض عن فائدة استعراضنا لقصص مماثلة؟ فما علاقة معاناة عمرها عقود مع عالمنا اليوم؟ وما جدوى إسقاطتها على سوريتنا؟ الجواب بسيط: ربما لا شيء، وربما كل شيء. لعلّ ما سيسمح لنا اليوم ومستقبلاً بالتفكُّر في حالتنا هو تلك المسافة الفاصلة بين “ذاك الذي يمسّنا مباشرة” و“ذاك الذي لا يمسّنا.” ما أقصده هنا هو الهامش السرّي الموجود في المخيلة والذي تفتحُ له قصة (جادڤيكا) أو قصص وشهادات مماثلة. فالانتهاك هو نفسه. والقهر هو نفسه. الخراب هو ذاته، برتابته، ويوميّته. بعناده و قسوته. لم يتغيّر شيء اليوم إلا نحن، البشر.
الخسارة
تختم (جادڤيكا) شهادتها القانونية المسجّلة في أرشيف جامعة هارڤارد بالقول:” رجلي الآن شفيت، ولكنها سريعاً ما تصاب بالضعف. في الأشهر الثلاثة الماضية انتابني الكثير من نوبات الحمى التي يعتقد أنها ناتجة عن تكرر الإنتانات.” بعيدا عن الجسدي إلى النفسي، لم أجد شهادات ومتابعات لحالة (جادڤيكا) خاصة، ولم أعثر على ما يدل على نوع الحياة التي عاشتها بعد خروجها من معسكر الاعتقال النازي. كيف تعايشت مع خساراتها؟ كيف كان شكل حياتها، عائلتها، ما شكل غرفة معيشتها، ومن تجمّع حول سرير موتها؟
في الحديث عن “الخسارة“، لا يسعني إلا أن أسترسل في أفكاري من (جادڤيكا) إلى شكسبير و “تاجره“، الذي طالب برطل من لحم (أنتونيو) –كفيل بطل المسرحيّة– شرطاً جزائياً في حال عدم رد القرض المالي الذي استلفه (باسانيو) منه، و لم يستطع أن يَرُدَّهُ في الوقت المناسب. ينتهي المطاف بالغريمين في المحكمة حيث تُدحَضُ القضية بحجة داهية؛ حيث أنه من غير الممكن اقتطاع رطل من اللحم من دون خرق واضح للعقد. ذلك لاستحالة اقتطاع اللحم من دون “إراقة قطرة واحدة من الدم“، و من دون “انتهاك” هذا الإنسان. رطل اللحم ذاك يضفر ويفك التخوم بين اللغة والمنطق. فالخسارة لم تكن يوماً “مجرد” رطل من اللحم. الخسارة هنا تتجاوز معناها المادي. أي أنّها ليست مجرد أعداد قتلى، ونازحين أو لاجئين، أو أطنان اسمنت مكدّس، أو تشريح لشظايا في الأطراف. خسارة (أنتونيو) –الموشكة– في تاجر البندقية، كخسارة (جادڤيكا)، و إذا سمحتم لي، كخسارة السوري اليوم، تتجاوز حدود الجسدي إلى ما هو أكثر ضبابية و أقل تحديداً. إلى بعد ميتافزيقي آخر. إذاّ، ما الذي ينتهك بشريتنا، وما الذي يترتب على خسارة النفس، أو المعنى؟ ما الذي يخصص لقيمة الإنسان؟ هو ربما نفسه الذي تكتب عنه (سيلفيا بلاث) ، وهي تتأمّل معصمها وشرايينها غير المنتهكة بعد، و سكينها في اليد، وتفكّر في ماهو أبعد من شرايينها ودمها، في ما يتجاوز جسدها الفيزيائي إلى جوهرها الإنساني، في ما هو “أعمق، أكثر سريّة، و عصيّ على الوصول.”
بين الصوت و الصمت
إن الكلام عن “حلّ” للنفس السورية غير مفيد و يؤدي إلى تشتيت الانتباه عن ما هو مهم اليوم أكثر من أي وقت مضى. الكلام عن حلول؛ يقضي بوجودها، و يحفز عملية البحث عنها، و صرف الطاقة في تحرّيها وتجريبها، والانتكاس عند فشلها. هل حقاً ثمّة حلول للخسران؟ ما حلّ (جادڤيكا) لخسرانها طبقات اللحم والعضل؟ ما حلها لفقدانها إنسانيتها؟ بعد سنوات من الفقد لا مكان لحلّ إلا محاولة إعطاء الوقت لفهم ما حصل ويحصل. السوري اليوم ثكلان ووحيد بالمعنى المعنوي. فقد ما هو أكثر من لحم. تعرّض لزلزال –بالمعنى الرمزي– انهارت تحت وطأته الحدود بين الفردي والمجتعي. حيث لا يجدي أن نضع خسارتنا (كسوريين) في أخبية معدّة مسبقة. هذا خباء المادي، وهذا خباء المعنوي. هذا للمجتمعي، وذاك للفكري، إلخ. تضرب الخسارة هنا عبر كل هذه الأبعاد وتتجاوزها في تجربة البشر. ربما من المفيد أن نستوعب هذه الخسارة أولاً، أن نحللها، و أن نأخذ وقتنا في الحزن قبل أن نعيد التفكير بما يترتب علينا في المستقبل. عملية التعافي من خسارة كهذه ستكلّفنا الكثير من الوقت و الجهد. و لكنّنا محكومون بها. في عملية التعافي هذه يمكن لنا ككتّاب وشعراء وروائيين أن نساعد من خلال الانفتاح على مأزق الناس و جرحهم، والنزول عن منصة النخبوية المتوارثة. يمكننا التفكير بالأدب و الفن كوسيلة ( والاعتراف بعدم وحدانيتها) لتسيير وتنشيط التعافي. يمكن النظر إلى تأثير الشعراء، والكتاب، والفلاسفة في المجتمعات الأوروبية بعد الحرب العالمية الثانية، أو في المجتمعات الإفريقية والآسيوية واللاتينية بعد تجربة الاستعمار، كنموذج، فكتابتنا لن تكون وحيدة في مكتبة الشقاء. كَتَبَ والتر سلاتوف: “ربما من غير المبالغ فيه القول أنّ أكثر موضوعات الفنّ شيوعاً هو المعاناة والألم، بشكل أو بآخر.” التحدّي الكامن أمامنا هو كيفية التعامل مع أشكال التعبير المختلفة. فهل “ينبغي” علينا الكتابة؟ هل نجبر الضحيّة على الكلام؟ هل نفرض “الصوت” كحل وحيد، أوحد، متوحد في ذاته؟ أليس هناك حدود للصوت؟ أليس هناك بدائل؟
عادة ما نفهم “الصوت” وخصائصه عندما نضعه جنبا إلى جنب مع “الصمت“. ديفيد موريس كَتَبَ عن تجاوز المعاناة لحدود اللغة. فاللغة عاطلة، وخاصة عندما يقف الأمر على إيصال تجربة المعاناة. غالباً ما يكون الصمت أبلغ تعبير عن قسوة الحياة. “المعاناة بكماء بالمعنى الرمزي” يقول ديفيد موريس “أي يصبحُ الصمتُ رمزاً لشيء غير قابل للكشف. الصمتُ يكشف عن تجربة، أكثر من مجرد مزعجة أو مقيتة، بل عصيّة على الفهم“. و أنا أتساءل إذا ما كانت المعاناة لا تسكن بالضرورة في الصوت أو الصمت فحسب، و إنما في المسافة الفاصلة بينهما. بين المكتوب و المخفي، بين المحكي و المسكوت عنه. هناك، في هذا الحيّز يمكن للصمت أن يفعل مثل المحكيّ فيما يتعلّق بالتعافي. لعلّ الوقت هو الذي عجّل شفاء (جادڤيكا) الروحي. الوقت و وجود من استمع إليها تروي قصّتها، حتى ولو خلف الجدران المصمتة لمكتب وحدة التحقيقات عن جرائم الحرب. بلا أضواء الفلاشات و لا ميكروفونات الصحف. ربما هذا ما يحتاجه السوري اليوم. من يستمع له وهو يروي قصته، أو يترك له المسافة وهو يصمت عنها.
هوامش
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | نوفمبر 1, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundup Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Why We Decided to Stay in Damascus (19 October 2017) Many anti-regime activists remain living in Damascus realize. A fundamental difference between them and other activists who have fled the country is that they all see Syria in a vastly different place from where it was seven years ago.
The Tragic Legacy of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (21 October 2017) David Remnick talks with a member of the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, whose underground citizen journalists have documented life under ISIS rule.
US-backed fighters take control of Syria’s largest oilfield (22 October 2017) Analysts questioned whether the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) would be allowed to keep control of the country’s most lucrative oil field.
Syrian regime traps 400,000 civilians in east Ghouta (23 October 2017) At least 400,000 civilians have been blockaded and trapped by the Syrian regime on eastern Ghouta region near the capital, Damascus, leaving them struggling with malnutrition.
Health Crisis Looms Over Eastern Ghouta (24 October 2017) Hasan Arfeh tackles the medical situation in Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta under the current suffocating siege.
5,600 ‘have returned home’ from ISIL-held areas (24 October 2017) Thousands of foreign ISIL supporters have returned to their home countries after leaving Syria and Iraq over the past two years.
Exclusive: Death certificate offers clues on Russian casualties in Syria (27 October 2017) An official document seen by Reuters shows that at least 131 Russian citizens died in Syria in the first nine months of this year.
Inside Rukban Camp, One of Syria’s Most Desperate Settlements (27 October 2017) Rukban camp for internally displaced persons near the border with Jordan is rapidly deteriorating. International humanitarian groups are close to being overwhelmed, despite local NGOs and rebel groups trying to help out as well.
Convoy rolls into Damascus suburbs with aid for 40,000: U.N. (30 October 2017) A convoy from the United Nations and Syrian Arab Red Crescent entered towns in the besieged Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta on Monday, bringing aid to 40,000 people for the first time since June 2016.
Regional and International Perspectives
Turkey gearing up to destroy Al-Qaeda’s offshoot in Syria (12 October, 2017) Wresting control of Idlib province from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham would allow Turkey to effectively surround the Kurdish-held Afrin canton, writes Paul Iddon.
Saving America’s Syrian Ceasefire (20 October 2017) Sam Heller writes: “Whatever problems the south now faces in terms of a breakdown of law and order, they seem likely to explode if the salaries are abruptly cut off and thousands of armed rebels suddenly need to do their own fund-raising.”
Drumpf says end of Islamic State ‘caliphate is in sight’ after Raqqa’s fall (21 October 2017) US to back talks to end Syrian violence, allow refugees to return and effect political transition: Drumpf.
Kurdish fight for women’s rights faces challenges in Syria (21 October 2017) Wladimir van Wilgenburg claims that in northern Syria, the Kurds are trying to implement women’s rights, but this could prove difficult among the Arab population.
Why does Israel keep attacking Syria? (23 October 2017) Zena Tahhan writes “There have been almost routine attacks in the form of rocket fire – as well as assassinations and air raids carried out exclusively by Israel – that have intensified since the war in Syria began in 2011.”
Who will pay for the reconstruction of Raqqa? (23 October 2017) James Denselow writes “Raqqa residents cannot yet think of returning because those responsible for destroying it do not seem that willing to foot the bill for its reconstruction.”
NSA Document Says Saudi Prince Directly Ordered Coordinated Attack By Syrian Rebels On Damascus (24 October 2017) The NSA document shows “how deeply these foreign powers would become involved in parts of the armed uprising, even choosing specific operations for their local allies to carry out.”
Russia vetoes extension of mission probing chemical weapons use in Syria (24 October 2017) Russia cast a veto at the United Nations Security Council preventing the renewal of the mandate for a mission that investigates the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
But what was so appealing about ISIS? (30 October 2017) What happened before, during and after the Tunisian revolution that made the Islamist morbid utopia seem possible and attractive?
Dark Victory in Raqqa (6 November 2017) Kurdish revolutionaries, including many women who joined the Syrian Democratic Forces, helped the U.S. expel the Islamic State from its capital city.
Policy and Reports
Amid War, Women Are Starting to Make a Mark on Syrian Politics (17 October 2017) The conflict in Syria has shifted traditional roles within communities and more women are starting to play roles in politics at all levels. But their overall influence remains minimal, leaving Syria’s destiny in the hands of men.
Syria: playing into their hands (October 2017) In this study, David Keen explores how both the Syrian regime and international actors fuelled violence and fundamentalism in the Syrian war.
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (21 October 2017) The Syrian refugees in Lebanon suffer because they have not been granted refugee status and therefore have no access to their fundamental rights.
1,100 children suffering malnutrition in Syria’s Ghouta: UNICEF (23 October 2017) UNICEF says that more than 1,100 children are suffering from acute malnutrition in the besieged rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area.
Syria, the uprising and the media scene (26 October 2017) The Syrian revolutionary process is a more thoroughly documented uprising than has ever been seen before in history, notably thanks to these democratic media.
Syria’s Khan Sheikhoun chemical massacre: proof beyond doubt who is to blame (28 October, 2017) The UN confirmed this week widely-held suspicions that the Syrian regime carried out a chemical attack on an opposition village in Idlib province.
Statement of the Syrian non-governmental institutions on the situation in the eastern Ghouta (30 October, 2017) In this statement, the League of Syrian Network and over 36 other organizations express concerns about the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta where around four hundred thousand people are suffering from a tight siege.
Education in Syria Needs More Than Short-Term Solutions (30 October 2017) Kinana Qaddour writes “The importance of evolving how local communities and implementers interpret education needs to better reflect local dynamics is something that education stakeholders should prioritize sooner rather than later.”
Syrian war: All you need to know about the Astana talks (30 October 2017) Representatives of the Syrian government and some armed opposition groups are meeting in the Kazakh capital, Astana, for talks aimed at implementing a lasting ceasefire agreement.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Agriculture and Food Sovereignty in Syria (4 October 2017) A multi-coloured bus is picking up children from the Zaizoun refugee camp in Daraa, southern Syria. This ‘bus of joy,’ also called ‘the olive bus,’ is a service set up by a local organisation named ‘olive branch.’ Olives are one of the most important agricultural products in Daraa, with 6.5 million trees farmed on close to 30,000 hectares.
Syria heroes The White Helmets win Good Housekeeping Women of the Year award (16 October 2017) The women of The White Helmets – a group of volunteers who work to save lives in war-torn Syria – were the recipients of the Good Housekeeping Women of the Year award at a ceremony in London recently.
Syrian journalist wins UK award for Aleppo hospital film (24 October, 2017) Syrian video journalist Waad al-Kateab was awarded with Britain’s Rory Peck award for her coverage inside east Aleppo’s last functioning hospital, al-Quds, in November 2016.
Jihad Abdo: The movie star who fled Syria to deliver pizza in Hollywood (25 October, 2017) Jihad (‘Jay’) Abdo was once a prominent actor in the Arab world before he fled to America for a life of poverty – and a fledgling Hollywood career.
The fear and loathing of Syrian refugees in Lebanon (28 October, 2017) Over a million Syrians have fled to Lebanon since the war began but their reception has grown increasingly hostile. Ayman Mhanna, Kareem Chehayeb, Diana Moukalled, and Walid Abboud discuss this situation.
An emotional homecoming for Syrian hostages who escaped Islamic State (29 October, 2017) Twenty six Syrian hostages who escaped from their Islamic State captors receive an emotional homecoming in the central province of Homs.
Competing narratives: The fall of Raqqa (29 October, 2017) Bassam Haddad, Christa Salamandra, AbdAlaziz Alhamza, Omar Al Ghazzi, and Lina Khatib discuss how did international news media cover the capture of Raqqa from ISIL.
Maps
Mapped: The Last Islamic State Stronghold in Syria (4 October 2017) The Islamic State has retreated to a remote tribal region. Taking it back won’t be easy.
Mapped: ISIL’s territorial loss in northern Iraq (18 October 2017) Since the fall of Mosul in July, ISIL has been losing territory in northern Iraq.
Syria: Who controls what? (29 October 2017) A map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after years of fighting.
Syrian Army approaches Al-Qaeda stronghold in east Hama – map (30 October 2017) The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched an important offensive in the eastern countryside of the Hama Governorate early last week.
Arabic Links:
هل سيحصل أكراد سوريا على الفدراليّة في ظلّ الأسد؟ The Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum continues to make waves in Syria as the country’s Kurds believe they can negotiate with the government about establishing a federal Syrian state.
The English version of this article can be found here: Syrian Kurds focused on federalism
التعمير بعد تدمير: كيف يستغل النظام دمار الممتلكات وتشريعات الأراضي Future potential donors should use any leverage they may have to undo as many as possible of the Syrian regime’s policies, which transfer public assets to regime cronies, and ensure a fairer and more balanced reconstruction.
The English version of this article can be found here: Destruct to Reconstruct: How the Syrian Regime Capitalises on Property Destruction and Land Legislation
انتهى داعش .. أسئلة لا بد منها Mohamad Dibo discusses the end of ISIS and how combating terrorism became the top priority in Syria.
عامان يُمهّدان لاحتلال قد يمتد إلى نصف قرن This is an analysis of the direct Russian military intervention in Syria and its future.
أبو علي صالح.. اعتقال متكرّر The Syrian regime arrested again Abu Ali Saleh, a peaceful opposition activist who is known for his humanitarian efforts.
عوامل بقاء نظام الأسد حتى الآن في الحرب السورية: منظور تاريخي This study explores the historical and economic survival factors of the Assad regime.
جمعية لبنانية تدخل النور على حياة اللاجئين السوريين For the first time in three years, Haela and her four children can finally enjoy fresh air and some natural light in their small one-room apartment in Ouzaii, a sprawling slum area in the south of Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
The English version of this article can be found here: Eco-friendly renovation brings light to Syrians in Lebanon
الجماعات المتمرّدة تدرس خياراتها في شرق سوريا Armed opposition groups from Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor are working on how to retake their city from the Islamic State before the Syrian regime does without having to ally with the Kurdish forces.
The English version of this article can be found here: Rebel groups weigh options in Syria’s east
سُم في الهواء الطلق This investigative report highlights the crisis of inhalation Damasus’ polluted air which is increasingly contaminated with the waste of electric generators.
“التنمر الإلكتروني” في أوساط السوريين: فهم خاطئ أم أسلوب حياة؟ Farah Youssef discusses the hostile online environment on Syrian social media and what she calls “photoshop crimes.”
كيف مهّد الجيش السوريّ طريقه إلى الرقّة؟ The Syrian regime army took control of Hama’s eastern countryside from the Islamic State, which opened a road toward eastern Syria and areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The English version of this article can be found here: How the Syrian army is working to gain control of road to Raqqa
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أكتوبر 19, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundup Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Director-General praises Dr Maamoun Adbulkarim’s commitment as Director General for Antiquities and Museums of Syria between 2012 and 2017 (4 October, 2017) UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova commended Dr. Maamoun Abdulkarim at the end of his 5-years’ mandate as Head of the Directorate General for Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM). She praised his unfailing commitment, tenacity and outstanding contribution to the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Syria since 2012.
‘We’re staying out of it’: Syrian Arab Army soldiers in Suwayda defy military command (4 October, 2017) After serving for three years in the Syrian Arab Army, from 2012 to 2015, Abu Sari was ready to go home.
Conservation completed on Lion of Al-lāt statue from ancient city of Palmyra, damaged by ISIL (5 October, 2017) The 2000-year old statue Lion of Al-lāt, that once watched over the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, stands proudly once again, thanks to UNESCO’s Emergency Safeguarding of the Syrian Cultural Heritage project.
Syria’s reconstruction: Winners and losers (10 October 2017) There is a growing debate about reconstruction in Syria in Western and regional policy circles. The European Union has been closely studying options for reconstruction, while some Western (and non-Western) governments are positioning themselves so that they can play a role in the reconstruction process.
Turkey’s Operation in Idlib May Not Bring All-Out War With al-Qaida (10 October 2017) Turkey’s discussions with al-Qaida-linked militants ahead of its deployment in Syria’s Idlib province indicate that a wide-scale offensive against the militant group may not be Ankara’s primary objective, according to Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute.
Sarin gas attack-linked Syria air base to be visited by UN investigators (11 October 2017) UN team will visit Syria’s Shayrat airfield, which was targeted by US after Khan Sheikhun sarin gas attack
US-backed rebels withdraw from eastern desert with no clear mission ahead (12 October, 2017) The capture of new desert territory appears to illustrate a major shift of military control in Syria’s east that is months in the making, despite rebel assertions that they withdrew in order to protect the nearby Rukban displacement camp located within the American-run military zone.
Inside ISIS’ Dysfunctional Schools (13 October, 2017) Kinana Qaddour reports on how ISIS educational system evolved over the years and its failure to function (or even exist) in most ISIS-controlled areas.
After fall of Mayadeen, Syrian Arab Army expands campaign against Islamic State in Deir e-Zor (16 October, 2017) The capture of Mayadeen is part of a wider regime offensive to drive IS from the province, where both US-backed Kurdish-majority forces and pro-government fighters continue to capture towns and villages previously controlled by the militant group in the Deir e-Zor countryside.
What next for Raqqa? (16 October, 2017) The truth is that Western countries want to fight ISIS, especially foreign fighters, that may present risks to their own societies in the future. But what happens to the civilians that get crushed in the process, seems to be no one’s responsibility.
Drought Not the Only Environmental Problem in Syria Before 2011 (17 October, 2017) It is misleading to view the case of the Syrian drought as an example of climate-induced conflict. There were many socio-economic and political factors at play at the same time, and it is unrealistic to try to identify a single root cause of the uprising.
Regional and International Perspectives
Qatar’s Pragmatic Syria Gamble (4 October, 2017) Doha’s policy is aligned with the West, and not the ideals of the Islamic State or Al Qaeda.
Syria’s destruction revives a dream of rebuilding Lebanon’s railway (5 October, 2017) Firms from the Gulf and China are eyeing investments that seek to capture some of the $200bn needed to rebuild Syria. A railway from Lebanon’s ports to Syria’s cement-hungry cities might encourage them. But even if the war ends it will take years before work on a new rail network can begin.
EU Officials Urging Syrian Opposition to Accept Assad Remaining (9 October, 2017) Zaman al-Wasl reports that European officials are pursuing normalization with Assad through the diplomatic and security fields.
Hezbollah leader says US actions aiding Islamic State in Syria (8 October, 2017) Comments come after US official says president is considering sanctions on Iran for its support of Hezbollah.
Turkey intervenes in Syria: What you need to know (9 October, 2017) After months of speculation, Turkey has launched an intervention – with the help of rebels it supports – in northwestern Syria. But what exactly is Turkey hoping to do, and how will the jihadis who control the province react, not to mention the civilians who have taken shelter there?
‘People no longer care’: Damascus accepts Assad victory as fait accompli (9 October, 2017) Shortages have eased, rebel attacks have reduced – and desire for change has evaporated as many in Syria’s capital just want the killing to end.
Crushed but for 120 minutes united: qualifier lets Syrians forget war (11 October, 2017) The national team’s progress into a World Cup play-off was a chance to focus on something other than division and destruction.
Idlib city in state of lawlessness as hardline rebel coalition’s police force fails to maintain order, residents say (11 October, 2017) Hundreds of residents of opposition-held Idlib city closed their businesses and took to the streets in a city-wide general strike this week, amid what residents and local business owners described … as lawlessness and ineffective rebel policing.
C.I.A. Study of Covert Aid Fueled Skepticism About Helping Syrian Rebels (14 October, 2017) The still-classified review, one of several C.I.A. studies commissioned in 2012 and 2013 in the midst of the Obama administration’s protracted debate about whether to wade into the Syrian civil war, concluded that many past attempts by the agency to arm foreign forces covertly had a minimal impact on the long-term outcome of a conflict.
How Assad’s Enemies Gave Up on the Syrian Opposition (17 October, 2017) There is no longer any serious international support for the opposition’s original raison d’être, the idea that still animates its members and leaders: namely to rid Syria of the Assad dynasty.
Policy and Reports
Did some media play into ISIS’s hands? (2 October 2017) Some conservative outlets hyped the terror group’s claim that it was responsible for the Las Vegas shooting.
Jordan Says Hosting Syrian Refugees Has Cost $10 Billion (10 October 2017) Authorities in Jordan estimated at more than $10 billion the cost of hosting thousands of refugees displaced from neighboring Syria since the civil war broke out there in 2011.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here: كلفة استضافة اللاجئين السوريين في الأردن تجاوزت عشرة مليارات دولار
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
نورا الصفدي خرطبيل في المشهد (October 3, 2017) An interview with Noura Ghazi Safadi, a Syrian human rights lawyer, who shares the story of her husband, a well-known internet activist, Bassel Khartabil who was executed by the Syrian regime.
The agony of absence: Wives of disappeared detainees face uncertainty, social pressures (9 October, 2017) “For friends and families, disappeared detainees exist in a space between life and death. Prolonged absence forces a difficult choice—assume loved ones to be dead and move on with life, or wait, perhaps for years, in the hope that they are still alive.”
‘‘How can I support this team?’ Divided loyalties for Syrians haunted by civil war (10 October, 2017) Like the country itself, feelings about Syria’s national football team, who play Australia tonight, are complex.
Syrian women will sing Big Ben’s missing bongs to remember loved ones ‘disappeared’ by Assad regime (10 October 2017) An estimated 200,000 have been jailed or disappeared by the Assad regime since 2011.
Maps
MOSCOW PRESSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (10 October, 2017) Moscow’s expanding footprint in Tartous underscores the Kremlin’s intent to use its positions on the Syrian coast to establish Russia as a permanent regional power and challenge the Unites States and NATO in the longterm.
What is left of ISIL in Iraq?(11 October 2017) More than three years since its dramatic capture of Mosul, ISIL is a group in rapid decline, despite the ongoing threat of attacks.
SYRIA SITUATION REPORT: SEPTEMBER 27 – OCTOBER 10, 2017
Syrian Civil War Map (15 October 2017) A map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after years of fighting.
MAPPED: The battle against ISIL (15 October 2017) In the past year and a half, ISIL’s territory has been shrinking steadily.
Arabic Links:
«التتريك» يزدهر في الشمال: لواء إسكندرون جديد Turkey pursues a policy of turkification as part of the Shield of Euphrates operation in Syria.
حميرة: “أنا أشحد”.. ولهذه الأسباب يرفض الخليجيون تمويل أعمالي Fouad Humeira, a well-known Syrian scriptwriter, reveals the reasons that forced him to stop writing and how a production company in the Gulf refused to finance his work for sectarian reasons.
“التعليم العالي” تنفي رفع الاعتراف بالشهادة السورية Higher Education Minister Atef Naddaf refutes rumors about Syrian degrees obtained from Syrian universities as being unrecognized internationally.
ماذا لو اشتكت لاجئة من العنف ضدها؟ What if a refugee woman filed a complaint for being subjected to violence?
مع استمرار التعديات عليها غابــات اللاذقيــة تضيــع بيــن التحطيــب والتفحيــم .. فمــن يوقــف الحــرائق؟Fires destroy many forest areas in the countryside of Lataki.
من “زهرة الصحراء” إلى “شوكة الصحراء” … أسماء الأسد مرة أخرى!Asma al-Assad, A Rose in the Desert, as Vogue magazine described her once, remarketing her image through her frequent appearances and visits to the poor in Syria.
طعن بالسكين .. محاولة اغتيال المخرج السوري محمد بايزيد في اسطنبول Syrian film director Mohamed Bayazid was subjected to an assassination attempt by unknown assailants in Istanbul.
باص الحرية يبدأ رحلتهActivists drove a ‘Freedom Bus’ around the British capital to draw attention to tens of thousands of detained and missing people in Syria.
منذر مصري يكتب: من أجل ماذا خرج الشعب السوري؟Monzer Masri criticizes Syrian opposition figures who forgot why Syrians revolted against the regime.
دروس البوسنة لسوريا: لا يمكن لمجرمي الحرب أن يكونوا جزءاً من الحل Syria Untold interviews Dr. Goran Šimić, a Professor of Criminal law and Transitional justice at the International University of Sarajevo, about justice and reconciliation in post-conflict societies, as well as similarities between Bosnia and Syria.
The English version of this article can be found here: Bosnia’s Lessons for Syria: War Criminals Cannot Be Part of the Solution
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أكتوبر 5, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundups Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Countryside Dwellers and City Dwellers… About the Syria that we Know very well (10 September 2017) “Munira says that countryside dwellers have started to feel they are proud of their belonging to their small towns and villages only after the revolution.”
As War Rages, Tabqa Schools Offer Hope to Syrian Children (12 September 2017) “Local officials face numerous challenges as they struggle to get students back into the education system while the war continues, but several Tabqa schools are set to reopen for Syrian children this week, just months after the city was liberated from ISIS.”
Hundreds of Isis defectors mass on Syrian border hoping to flee (12 September 2017) Several dozen former fighters have already crossed into southern Turkey in recent weeks as terror group loses territory.
Turkey deploys 80 military vehicles near Syrian border (17 September 2017) Deployment comes after Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to send ‘de-escalation’ forces to Syria in the coming weeks.
SOHR: Israeli warplanes hit near Damascus airport (22 September 2017) The air raids reportedly struck sites controlled by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, says UK-based activist group.
Syrians vote in Kurdish-led regions of north (22 September 2017) Syrians voted in an election organized by the Kurdish-led authorities of northern Syria, the start of a three-phase process to set up new governing institutions that aim to shore up regional autonomy.
Syria to consider granting Kurds greater autonomy (26 September 2017) Discussions on extended powers for Syrian Kurds to begin once Assad government defeats ISIL, foreign minister says.
British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria (27 September 2017) Mehmet Aksoy, from London, was working as a press officer for Kurdish forces in Raqqa when military base was attacked
Behind the story: Meet the journalists who risk the wrath of all sides to cover Syria’s south (27 September 2017) Five journalists, two from Suwayda province, two from Daraa and one from Quneitra, who cover the Syrian conflict on the ground at great personal risk share their stories and talk about challenges they faced.
Suwayda residents, citing weak government authority, turn anew to tribal laws to resolve civil, criminal matters(27 September 2017) “Residents of regime-held Suwayda province in Syria’s south are turning to centuries-old tribal practices to combat lawlessness, solve familial disputes and handle marriages in the absence of an effective civil authority, residents and local leaders on the ground tell Syria Direct.”
Joshua Landis: Syria on track ‘to go back to what we had before’ (28 September 2017) In this interview, Joshua Landis says that the way forward is an economy revitalized by regional transportation, trade routes and tourism.
‘New Baghdadi tape’ posted by Islamic State group (28 September 2017) Islamic State militants have released what appears to be an audio recording of their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Rare Islamic State victory in rural Homs splits displaced families apart (2 October, 2017) If confirmed, the capture of Qaryatayn is a rare victory for IS as the group’s forces suffer major losses in eastern Syria’s Raqqa and Deir e-Zor provinces, amid separate campaigns by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the regime to eradicate the group from its remaining territory.
Deadly bombing hits Damascus police station (3 October, 2017) ‘Terrorist explosion’ in al-Midan area kills more than 10 people, including civilians and police, in continued violence.
Syrian Soldier Is Guilty of War Crime, a First in the 6-Year Conflict (3 October, 2017) “For the first time, six years into a war that began with Syria’s secret police accused of torturing teenagers and has escalated in brutality ever since, a member of the Syrian military has been convicted of a war crime.”
Regional and International Perspectives
The best weapon to de-radicalise Isis returnees? Our own humanity (15 September 2017) Extremists coming back from Syria must not be seen as one-dimensional, Bond-movie bad guys. Our task is to remember that perpetrators can be victims.
US funding cuts and the impact on Syrian refugee women (20 September 2017) How the US went from all to nothing at a maternity clinic in the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp.
Exclusive: Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria’s Idlib – Erdogan (22 September 2017) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s northern Idlib region as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia last month.
Has the Syrian opposition lost the war? (23 September 2017) Journalist Patrick Cockburn and Syrian American Council adviser Mohammed Ghanem offer differing views on the Syrian war.
Moscow clashes with EU over aid to Syria (23 September 2017) Russia clashed with the EU over Syria, accusing the bloc of politicizing aid by linking reconstruction funds to a political transition that would end the war.
Evicted Refugees in Lebanon Have Nowhere Left to Run (28 September 2017) Lebanon wants to evict 12,000 refugees who live near an air base where foreign military assistance is delivered. The evictions, which began in spring and recently resumed after a short respite, have left refugees more vulnerable amid rising demands they return to Syria.
Expert Views: Is Jordan Headed Toward Detente With Damascus? (29 September 2017) Syria Deeply’s expert community weighs in on a possible rapprochement between Amman and Damascus and the drive in some quarters for improved relations between the two states.
Do Russians care about Syria? (30 September 2017) Two years into the Russian intervention in Syria, we ask what Russians think of the war.
Saudi king heads to Russia, with oil, investment and Syria on agenda (3 October, 2017) The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s biggest oil exporters, are expected to discuss cooperation on oil production and differences over Syria and Iran on Thursday during the first visit to Moscow by a reigning Saudi Monarch.
Policy and Reports
EU launches “Brussels process” for Syria, Mogherini announces at UNGA (21 September 2017) The EU is ready to contribute to the stabilisation and early recovery of areas where violence has decreased, and will hold a second conference on Syria in Spring 2018. In parallel, the EU continues to support the Geneva talks with the aim of a credible and inclusive agreement.
The socio-economic roots of Syria’s uprising (21 September 2017) While the outbreak of revolution in 2011 took many by surprise, the pre-conditions for such an upheaval had accumulated for decades.
German justice handed 27,000 images of ‘torture and killings by Assad regime’ (22 September 2017) More than 27,000 images of torture and killings allegedly perpetrated by the Assad regime in Syria have been handed to German prosecutors who are investigating possible abuses, a rights group said on Friday.
Intolerable Living Conditions in “al-Rukban Camp” on the Jordanian-Syrian Border (25 September 2017) “Tens of Thousands of Displaced Persons have Difficulty Accessing Potable Water and Health Care”
Syria: Coalition Airstrikes Killed Dozens Near Raqqa (25 September 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that two aerial attacks near Raqqa, Syria in March killed at least 84 civilians, including 30 children, and raise concerns that US-led coalition forces fighting the ISIS did not take adequate precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
Post-ISIS Governance in Jarablus: A Turkish-led Strategy (26 September 2017) Turkey’s capacity to ensure the sustainability of its successes against ISIS depends largely on improving governance in Jarablus.
Will the U.S. Abandon the Kurds of Syria Once ISIS is Destroyed? by Landis, Itani, Simon (1 October 2017) Joshua Landis, Faysal Itani, Steven Simon shares their perspectives on whether the United States would stand by the Kurds of north Syria once ISIS is destroyed.
Jordan: Syrian Refugees Being Summarily Deported (2 October 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that Jordanian authorities have been summarily deporting Syrian refugees – including collective expulsions of large families.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here: الأردن: ترحيل مستعجل للاجئين سوريين
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Campfire songs in a war zone: Syria’s girl scouts earn their stripes (19 September 2017) Arabic could become the fourth official language of the world Girlguiding movement, as Syria’s girl scout network wins international recognition
We felt so lucky to foster a young refugee. Don’t let Parsons Green tarnish a proud tradition (20 September 2017) Fostering a teenager from Syria has been a privilege and given us a new perspective on our lives. I hope this horrific attack does not deter future carers.
Syrian opposition activist and her journalist daughter murdered in Turkey (22 September 2017) 60-year-old Orouba Barakat and 22-year-old daughter Halla were found overnight in their apartment in Istanbul’s Uskudar neighbourhood.
How One Syrian Fought to the Death for a Free Internet (27 September 2017) Della Ratta says. “We should take it very seriously when the international community is dealing with Bashar al-Assad like he’s not doing what he’s doing, which is killing his people and executing people like Bassel. It’s a very sad story but it deserves to be told. Otherwise an entire chapter of this situation in Syria will be lost.”
Fatal Attraction: The Islamic State’s Politics of Sentimentality (28 September 2017) “The ability of the Islamic State (IS) to gain virtual and literal ground in terms of recruitment throughout the world is very much linked to its politics of sentimentality.”
5 amazing ways #MeWeSyria is helping young Syrian refugees (1 October 2017) The work that #MeWeSyria is doing to support and facilitate young Syrians in telling their stories is a fundamental part of the effort to bridge the gap between educational and emotional needs.
The 13-year-old Syrian refugee who became a prizewinning poet (1 October 2017) A year after learning to speak English, Amineh Abou Kerech has won this year’s Betjeman prize. She tells us how she found her voice.
Review: ‘The Impossible Revolution’ in Syria (3 October 2017) Lebanese writer Joey Ayoub reviews Yassin Al-Haj Saleh’s The Impossible Revolution: Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy.
Maps
Mapping the Battle Against ISIS in Deir Ezzor (26 September 2017) Syria Deeply examines the pitched battle for Deir Ezzor, including advances by both the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Assad government against the so-called Islamic State in the oil-rich province.
The city fit for no-one (26 September 2017) A collection of maps and visuals that shows aspects from inside Raqqa, the ruined ‘capital’ of the Islamic State group
Mapping out Syria’s remaining battles (26 September 2017) Battles intensify as fighting in Syria now focused on three key areas.
Syria’s civil war explained from the beginning (1 October, 2017) The Syrian civil war is the deadliest conflict the 21st century has witnessed so far.
Deir Azzour Tribal Mapping Project (2 October, 2017) Deir Azzour is in the strategic eastern region of the country, on the border with Iraq, and the governorate is approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Damascus.
Arabic Links:
إصبعٌ على الكيبورد.. وآخرُ في عين الكارثة Ola Hosamow writes about the growing number of Syrian artists who use digital arts as an expression of the Syrian tragedy.
إزاحة رأس النظام السوري وتناقض التصريحات This article examines the contradictory statements made by Western officials towards whether Assad should stay in power or leave.
بعد اعتقال دام 4 سنوات ..”حازم الحريري” قتيلاً في سجون النظام Family of Hazim Alhariri was informed that Hazim (22 years old) was executed in 2014. Hazim was a Law school student at the University of Aleppo and a musician.
الوجود الكردي في سورية تاريخيًا واجتماعيًا Abdulbaset Sieda, a Kurdish-Syrian academic and politician, writes about the socio-historical existence of Kurds in Syria.
أغاني العرس الفلّاحي في العراق والشام Anas Al-Asaad analyzes peasant wedding songs in Syria and Iraq.
المثقف النذل Gassan Jebai criticizes Arab intellectuals who supported oppressive regimes against their own people.
نص المداخلة الشفهية لرئيس المركز السوري للإعلام وحرية التعبير مازن درويش، خلال جلسة “بناء أسس العدالة في سوريا” The intervention of Mazen Darwish, Director of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), “Accountability High Level Event” at the United Nations General Assembly, 72nd session
The English version of this article can be found: here.
إطلاق سراح لاعب سوري بعد وساطة من عمر السومة؟ Upon a personal request made by Syrian football player Omar Somah, Mohammad Kunis, a Syrian football player, was released from the regime’s prison.
حمودة صباغ .. رئيسا لمجلس الشعب السوري Hammouda Sabbagh was elected as the new Speaker of the People’s Council of Syria.
ما بعد السيطرة على جسد المرأة Jad Al Karim Jebaei criticizes the patriarchal structures and Arab/Islamic culture which control the body and deny individual freedom.
المرأة السورية ومنظمات المجتمع المدني! Syrian Women’s Network organized a workshop in Gaziantep to empower Syrian women.
لقاء مع مالك جندلي An interview with Malek Jandali, a Syrian-American pianist and composer.
14 الجاري.. “يوم الغضب السوري” في العالم Syrian activists call for “a day of rage” worldwide on October 14.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
