The Libyan Diplomatic Crisis Shifts to Syria

Syrians took to the streets this past Friday, April 23, on what was incidentally Good Friday for Christians. According to The Los Angeles Times, at least 101 people were killed among the tens to possibly hundreds of thousands of protestors on what they dubbed “Great Friday.”

Obama has already issued a statement saying that “This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now,” and also accusing the Syrian administration of asking Iran, with whom the country has a strategic alliance, for help in the crackdown. Likewise, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has demanded an independent investigation into the violence, while France is “extremely concerned.”

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn 

Clearly, protesters are not letting the violence and danger stop them.

President Bashar Assad and his lackeys have taken to employing particularly cruel and disturbing methods for subjugating the citizens this time around. Citizens are guarding morgues in order to stop the government from snatching bodies and thus preventing funerals, which are often just as politically charged as the protests, while videos show men shot in streets, children shot in the head, and security guards both in plainclothes and in uniforms shooting from rooftops on unarmed civilians. Official Syrian news agencies, however, are saying that the security forces used only water cannons and tear gas, and that the army discovered fabricated footage of violence on digital cameras.

Assuming that the Syrian news agencies are lying, this use of live fire is particularly disturbing, especially as numerous protesters have attested to the victims being completely unarmed; sadly, many protesters are mostly asking for civil rights, including the right to protest peacefully. As the crackdowns have become harsher in the previous weeks, however, protesters’ demands have become more specific; rather than asking simply for the removal of the five-decades-old emergency law, they are demanding Assad’s ouster. 

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn

Many protesters simply want the right to protest peacefully, though most also want the end of Assad's regime.

Among the other demands listed by the group of activists currently speaking for the protesters is the stipulation of a three-day mourning period for those killed by the violence. Unfortunately, it does not look as if the protesters will even be allowed the chance to mourn at funerals; the security forces yet again fired upon protesters on Saturday, April 23, though this time it was on a funeral procession. Particularly disturbing, witnesses described snipers on roofs aiming at mourners.

Now, the citizens have called for a general strike, and have adopted the slogan, “The people want the overthrow of the regime.”

Photo Courtesy of shamsnn

Protesters are uniting around slogans demanding Assad's ouster.

“Can you hear it?” one witness told a reporter over the phone. “Listen. This is war. The regime has declared a war on the Syrian people.”

Still, Obama has not mentioned any kind of military action or aid in the vein of that provided to the Libyan rebels.

Yet again, it seems that world is faced with the horrible task of deciding when the violence becomes too much, and when a humanitarian crisis becomes such that it demands foreign intervention. Especially as Obama drew so much criticism for his handling of Libya (though, I disagree with those who believe he only intervened in order to save American oil interests), it will be a precarious albeit fascinating situation to watch as countries decide whether to react and how. It looks as if France is already showing interest in helping; given its attempts at leadership in Libya, it seems to be trying to take a bigger role in Middle Eastern politics, which is ironic given its recent ban of religious veils on women. 

It is a horrible fact that the world is being given the opportunity to refine its strategies on dealing with Middle Eastern protesters attempting to overthrow a repressive regime. Nevertheless, we can only hope for a swifter and less deadly conflict than the one which is currently still raging in Libya. My fingers remain crossed.

Religion Here and There

In light of Passover, I was looking for news about Israel and how it was dealing with the inevitable influx of tourists. As I was browsing, however, I came across this article from the AP discussing Libya’s Christians.

While I’m sure if you asked most people, they would of course know that there are Christian populations around the Middle East, the number of Muslims, Jews, and local religions, and, in particular, the strife among and within these groups, seems to overwhelm news about the Christians, barring the occasional article about a bombing at an Afghani church or a clash between Egyptian Coptic Christians and Muslims.

The AP article stated that, while Libya does not fully support Christianity, and bans missions, the government has allowed followers to practice; however, with the recent fighting, both membership and the churches’ ability to function have been hit hard. Conversely, Muslims have come up to local priests and requested that they contact the pope to halt airstrikes.

Photo Courtesy of rahuldlucca

Catholic Church at Dhara in Tripoli, Libya

Analysts whom I have read are predicting a decline in Christian communities in the area. In particular, Gerald Butt of The Guardian lamented that Christians and Muslims revolted together, yet the Islamic factions (be them Sunnis, Shi’ites or the Islamic Brotherhood), are the ones who are organizing politically. Granted, this may be lack of activity on the part of the Christians, but do they have the numbers and the clout to make their voices heard independently?

It is a touchy subject, and it is hard to write about religion in the area because it is so contentious. The Muslims have certainly been persecuted; I cannot even begin to count the number of times in Egypt when someone came up to a group of us and pleaded that we tell everyone we know in America that they were not all terrorists. There is a very real, and very problematic tension between the Sunnis and the Shi’ites. (There is a great op-ed in The Los Angeles Times showing the complexity of the tensions using Bahrain as an example), and there is a huge and deadly problem between the Jews and the Muslims in Israel and Palestine. 

Photo Courtesy of Jacobs - Creative Bees

Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Bahrain

When looking at all the religions in the area, worrying about Christianity seems irrelevant and selfish: How can I worry about a religion dominant throughout much of the West, when all the others are experiencing such strife? Still, I cannot help but feel that Muslims of all sects have a consistent presence in the Middle East and are active in politics; Christians, Jews (outside of Israel), and minority religions are forced to work harder. 

Yet, that does not mean that Christians are the only ones who demand attention. The difference lies both in that I am not well-versed enough in Islam to wax eloquent about the intricacies between the sects, and in that while I am very, very aware that persecution against Islam and especially against individual groups exists in the Middle East, I see it most here in the United States.

While we need to work for understanding between groups in the Middle East, it is much more feasible that we work for it here. We need to stop burning Qurans. Other countries (France) need to accept Muslim customs. We need to accept mosques and their presence, especially at Ground Zero. We need to combat what Al-Jazeera marks as rising discrimination against Muslims in America. If we want tolerance for all groups in the Middle East, we need to set the example.

Whether we like it or not, and whether or not America holds strongly to separation of church and state, religion is a political force. Be it Libyan Christians attempting to maintain their faith, or American Muslims asking for simple tolerance, all sides deserve respect.

Déja Vu

Remember when I started this blog, and Middle Eastern countries were just beginning to protest? It was exciting and invigorating, and the world was enraptured by the swift knockdown of nefarious protesters. Think back to before Libya, and before the country got mad at the undefinable and infuriating Obama Doctrine.

Guess what: They are protesting again.

Notably, Syria, who joined the foray in March, is stepping up its demands that authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad be ousted. At least 37 have died thus far around the nation, while limited cell phone service is making it difficult for others to follow events. Reports further state that it is not just the youth revolting this time; rather, even families are demanding that the once-reformist but now hardline president leave.

Photo Courtesy of byJoeLodge

Syrians protesting and demanding their president's ouster

Meanwhile, in Egypt, another 100,000 protesters returned to the now-iconic Tahrir Square on Friday, called the Day of Purification, to demand that the successfully ousted former president, Hosni Mubarak, be tried for his corruption, along with other members of his administration. This protest was again mainly spearheaded on the youth, and troops not only chased off demonstrators but also attempted to detain soldiers who had joined the crowds; in an uplifting show of solidarity and loyalty, the protesters did their best to shield and protect the rebel soldiers before they were taken. Unfortunately, this protest, too, degenerated into violence, with 71 hurt and one dead.

Photo Courtesy of RamyRaoof

Tahrir Square, where protesters are demonstrating again

Elsewhere, another group of about 1,000 Egyptians took to the Israeli Embassy, apparently angry over strikes on the Gaza strip, demanding that Egypt halt its natural gas exports to Israel. The Boston Globe notes that this put the military in a difficult position, as it claims to be working to provide greater freedom of expression (however, see the above paragraph regarding how that is working out), but also trying to assure Israel that it will maintain positive relations. So far, the military has forbidden protesters from getting to close to the embassy, and is encouraging them to disperse, but it seems to have refrained from violence.

The Yemeni continue to demand the President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down, while he continues to refuse. Tens of thousands protested in Sanaa, the capital, while in the city of Taiz, security forces killed three and injured numerous others during a funeral procession; this marks over 120 deaths since the protests began on February 11.

Photo Courtesy of Sallam

Sanaa, the capital of Yemen where protesters are meeting

In Jordan, a man set himself on fire in front of the prime minister’s office; the Washington Post marks this as the first act of protest in the country.

With more and more news of more and more violence, when did the protests turn from inspiring acts of bravery to tired and seemingly fruitless attempts? Has Egypt gone past the point of sympathy, as other countries have yet to manage what it has already done so swiftly? Has Yemen exhausted the avenue of protesting, while it does not seem to be able to find a back-up plan? Are Syria and Jordan too late to the game? 

The magic of the original protests is over, but these countries need to still be at least verbally supported; however, they also need to look into other avenues. Yes, protesting may seem like a last resort as it is, and no, I do not have any inspired suggestions for these nations. Yet, if tens of thousands can risk their lives, I have faith that they can put their heads together and find a solution. With some luck, they may take the world by a storm yet again.

And After All That...

The United States is becoming increasingly resigned to a possible stalemate or ceasefire in Libya.

That sounds good at first: Everyone will have stopped fighting and there will be a peace, albeit a shaky one, but does that mean that the entire mission was a failure? If Gaddafi stays in power, even in only some parts of the country or even if his powers are notably checked, was the money spent and manpower wasted worth it?

After one of the top aide’s in Libya, the now-former Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, defected and fled to London, leaders are pumping him for information regarding past crimes and the current situation; according to Koussa, the chances of forces loyal to Gaddafi giving up are slim to none, even as more defectors are following in his footsteps (Damien McElroy at The Telegraph compiled a pretty comprehensive list of these defectors here).

Photo Courtesy of Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας 

Defected Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa (right)

British officials disclosed that recent intelligence points to new avenues of fighting into which pro-government forces are looking, possibly breathing new life into attacks that have not yet died in the first place. Furthermore, analysts agree that Gaddafi is not about to relinquish power, no matter what other members of the government are doing, and he most certainly is not about to leave Tripoli, where he is surrounded by his loyal forces.

Like the rest of the entire situation, there are countless possibilities. To name a few, Libya could remain divided with Gaddafi simply “contained” within the country; military personnel could take out Gaddafi and work out a deal with the opposition; those loyal to Gaddafi could all defect and make separate deals with the opposition; everyone could work everything out and create a perfect democratic society. 

Even if the forces eventually defect to the point that there is no one left, analysts are admitting that things do not look good for the opposition, who have little organization or means of conveying important information. The opposition itself further seems to admit that it cannot win militarily, as a spokesman agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that Gaddafi remove his troops from the cities and allow for free speech. A government spokesman scoffed at the offer.

This is a disappointing update; everyone wants to see the evil dictator taken down and the underdog win (who doesn’t love an underdog story?). Unfortunately, as so often happens with politics, this was not an easy situation and, unfortunately, the gambles did not entirely pay off. 

Personally, I do not think that this was a wasted effort: Who knows how much United Nations intervention sped the rate of the defections, or how many lives were potentially saved by the airstrikes? Furthermore, simply by flexing out muscles and showing that we are watching, maybe, just maybe, Gaddafi is a little more scared and, maybe, he will clean up his act a bit.