E pluribus Syria?

Eric Shu, Brown graduate and jack of all trades for peacefare.net, contributes this first writeup of a Washington event that occurred March 9 at the United States Institute of Peace.  May there be many more.

As the violence in Syria continues to intensify, tensions regarding the role of minorities in both the current conflict and post-Assad regime are rising.   The discussion at USIP featured minority expatriates from the Christian, Alawite, Kurdish, and Druze communities as well as a professor (and member of the Syrian opposition abroad) who provided a Sunni perspective.

The generally optimistic discussion was filled with anecdotes of collaboration among the different communities, in sharp contrast to many reports from Syria. Three threads permeated through the panel’s conversation:  identity, the historical diversity of Syria, and the divisions created by the Assad regime as a strategy for control.

Dima Moussa reflected on her identity as a Christian Syrian, emphasizing that it was not until she immigrated to the United States that she felt the need to add the “Christian” prefix. Prior to moving to the United States, she resided in a diverse neighborhood with minorities living together. Mr. Oubab Khalil, the panelist representing the Alawite community, spoke of creating a pluralistic and secular community. Khalil, like Moussa, stressed that Alawites were also Syrians and that not all of them were supporters of the regime. “Alawites are not born criminals,” he emphatically pointed out. All panelists agreed that the Assad regime is playing up the sectarian divide in order to divide and weaken the opposition.

Historically, Syria has been a region of many minorities who have co-existed.  The Christian presence predates Islam in the area, though Christians make up only 10% of the population today.  But what is the potential for this cosmopolitan community in today’s Syria?

Oudei Abouassaf, representing the Druze minority, pointed out the gap between younger supporters who were driving the movement and those who had experienced oppression in the past. For individuals from the older generation, fear has become the norm. To alleviate this fear of speaking out, Abouassaf recommended that the Syrian National Council (SNC)  focus on more public outreach that utilizes a positive message inviting support for the opposition.

Abed Alo spoke on the behalf of the Syrian Kurdish community, explaining that the oppression of the Kurds had been two-fold: first for living under an oppressive Syrian regime and second for being Kurdish. The memories of oppression, which kept the Druze minority from speaking out, also constrained the willingness of the Kurdish community to openly support the opposition.

When asked whether the Sunni community held the same views as he did regarding the potential for cooperation, Najib Ghadbian, signatory to the Damascus Declaration and professor at the University of Arkansas, responded that these views were “widely represented.”  At the conclusion of the event, each panelist was invited to share his or her thoughts on what they felt the majority would need to do to best include the minority communities into this transition. The panelists agreed with the points that Dr. Ghadbian, referencing the SNC’s plan, had previously laid out:

• Increase outreach/publicity
• Include minorities in outreach activities
• Work to provide a comprehensive vision that will provide equal citizenship and protection of civil liberties as well as celebrate unique identities
• Creating safe zones for defectors

Despite these mechanisms for inclusion, the reality on the ground is only getting more dismal. Assad’s rejection of Annan’s call for ceasefire and political dialogue and continued killing of dissidents will make it more difficult to unite communities and encourage defections. The Alawite dominated military will need to be assured of safety so that defections can happen.

The tipping point for defections has not yet been reached and there is no certainty whether it will happen. Members of the Syrian opposition abroad, downplay the divisions.  The on-the-ground reality, as seen from various reports, differs. However hard the panelists (all expatriates) wish for a cohesive community, there is no denying that the potential for an explosion of sectarian violence looms.

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