Damascus Declaration
Encyclopedia
The Damascus Declaration was a statement of unity by Syria
n opposition figures issued in October 2005. It criticized the Syrian government regime
as `authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish,` and called for `peaceful, gradual,` reform `founded on accord, and based on dialogue and recognition of the other.`
The five-paged document unveiled at an unauthorized press conference was signed by more than 250 "major opposition figures" as well as parties "both secular and religious, Arab and Kurd
ish." It was considered important that the statement included the powerful Muslim Brotherhood
group of Syria, in addition to secular groups.
The statement called for a "fair solution for the Kurdish issue in Syria in a way insures the equality of Kurds with all other Syrian citizens".
Syrian journalist and activist Michel Kilo
launched the declaration, writing its first draft. Riad Seif
, another democracy activist, was the first signatory. The "five small opposition groups" signing the declaration were the Arab nationalist National Democratic Rally
, the Kurdish Democratic Alliance, the Committees of Civil Society, the Kurdish Democratic Front and the [Movement of the Future|Future Party].
Twelve members of the Damascus Declaration National Council were sentenced to two and a half years in prison in October 2008. According to a leaked March 2009 diplomatic cable
, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad responded to a comment by U.S. Senator Cardin that he could give "specific examples of citizens jailed for their political views" by saying that "we are a country in process of reform. We aren't perfect. You are talking about
12 people out of 20 million. It's a process. We are moving forward, not fast, but methodically." He said that the members had been convicted for their "contact with an individual in Lebanon who had invited the U.S. to attack Syria. This is against our law." In response to Senator Cardin's suggestion that Syria adhere to international standards, Asad chuckled in reply "You do not see this (freedom of expression) anywhere in the region," comparing the situation of half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria and saying that "if he were working against his people, he would not enjoy such popularity."
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n opposition figures issued in October 2005. It criticized the Syrian government regime
Politics of Syria
Politics in the Syrian Arab Republic takes place in the framework of what is officially a parliamentary republic, but what is considered an authoritarian government where the power is in the hands of the President of Syria, his family, the ruling Ba'ath Party, and the Alawi sect.The two presidents...
as `authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish,` and called for `peaceful, gradual,` reform `founded on accord, and based on dialogue and recognition of the other.`
The five-paged document unveiled at an unauthorized press conference was signed by more than 250 "major opposition figures" as well as parties "both secular and religious, Arab and Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
ish." It was considered important that the statement included the powerful Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
group of Syria, in addition to secular groups.
The statement called for a "fair solution for the Kurdish issue in Syria in a way insures the equality of Kurds with all other Syrian citizens".
Syrian journalist and activist Michel Kilo
Michel Kilo
Michel Kilo is a Syrian Christian writer and human rights activist, who has been called "one of Syria's leading opposition thinkers."-Career:He was born in the Syrian Mediterranean coastal city and province of Latakia in 1940....
launched the declaration, writing its first draft. Riad Seif
Riad Seif
Riad Seif is Syrian political dissident, formerly a member of the Parliament of Syria and prominent businessman, who founded and lead the Forum for National Dialogue. Seif was elected to parliament in 1994 as an independent and again in 1998...
, another democracy activist, was the first signatory. The "five small opposition groups" signing the declaration were the Arab nationalist National Democratic Rally
National Democratic Rally (Syria)
The National Democratic Rally or National Democratic Gathering is a banned opposition alliance in Syria, comprising five political parties of a secularist, pan-Arabist, Arab nationalist and socialist bent....
, the Kurdish Democratic Alliance, the Committees of Civil Society, the Kurdish Democratic Front and the [Movement of the Future|Future Party].
Twelve members of the Damascus Declaration National Council were sentenced to two and a half years in prison in October 2008. According to a leaked March 2009 diplomatic cable
Diplomatic cable
A diplomatic cable, also known as a diplomatic telegram or embassy cable, is the term given to a confidential text message exchanged between a diplomatic mission, like an embassy or a consulate, and the foreign ministry of its parent country....
, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad responded to a comment by U.S. Senator Cardin that he could give "specific examples of citizens jailed for their political views" by saying that "we are a country in process of reform. We aren't perfect. You are talking about
12 people out of 20 million. It's a process. We are moving forward, not fast, but methodically." He said that the members had been convicted for their "contact with an individual in Lebanon who had invited the U.S. to attack Syria. This is against our law." In response to Senator Cardin's suggestion that Syria adhere to international standards, Asad chuckled in reply "You do not see this (freedom of expression) anywhere in the region," comparing the situation of half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria and saying that "if he were working against his people, he would not enjoy such popularity."