Syria - protests

Pro-reform protests in Syria. See summary

Recent articles:

english.people.com.cn Massive protests continue in Sao Paulo 06/19
english.farsnews.com Syrian Troops Target Rebels in Lattakia 06/19
thelede.blogs.nytimes.com The Lede: Protests Expand in Brazil, Fueled by Video of Police Brutality 06/18
english.farsnews.com Iranian Envoy: Rebel Groups' Supporters Not in Favor of Settlement of Syrian Crisis 06/18
turkishweekly.net G8 summit begins in Northern Ireland 06/18
dailystar.com.lb Tripoli residents protest over unpaid compensation 06/18
huffingtonpost.com James Dorsey: Egypt's Morsi Turns to Syria and Soccer to Polish His Tarnished Image 06/18
csmonitor.com Times Square 'bike bomber' video released, FBI seeks Twitter tips 06/18
turkishpress.com US rejects any American involvement in Gezi Park protests 06/18
stripes.com Viewing the 'Arc of Chaos' 06/18
english.farsnews.com Syrian Troops Smash Rebels in Idlib Outskirts 06/17
bbc.co.uk VIDEO: Inside half-empty G8 protest camp 06/17
english.farsnews.com Istanbul Square Crackdown Shakes Erdogan's Regional Credibility 06/17
spiegel.de Interview with Prince Turki bin Faisal: 'Saudi Arabia Wants Downfall of Assad' 06/17
online.wsj.com Tensions Rise Over Syria Before Summit 06/17
english.farsnews.com Syrian Army Continues Advances in Damascus Outskirts 06/16
english.farsnews.com Army Kills 60 Armed Rebels in Northwestern Syria 06/16
scmp.com Mursi cuts ties with Syria, backs no-fly zone 06/16
english.farsnews.com Syrians Stage Mass Rally in Solidarity with Syria in Sydney, Australia 06/16
dnaindia.com President Mohamed Mursi cuts Egypt's Syria ties, backs no-fly zone 06/16
huffingtonpost.com 4 Lebanese Shiites Killed In Ambush Near Syria 06/16
yahoo.com 10 things you need to know today: June 16, 2013 06/16
english.farsnews.com Army Advances, Kills Hundreds of Armed Rebels in Southern, Northern Syria 06/15
france24.com UK: Police deploy as Northern Ireland G8 protests begin 06/15
aina.org Al-Qaida's Affiliates Blow Up Shiite Mosque in Syria 06/15
bbc.co.uk Cameron to meet Putin ahead of G8 06/15
english.people.com.cn Egyptians protest against Syrian president Assad 06/15
voanews.com Morsi Cuts Egypt's Syria Ties, Backs No-fly Zone 06/15
ndtv.com Mohamed Morsi cuts Egypt's ties with Syria, backs no-fly zone 06/15
voanews.com G8 Leaders Meet on Economy, Syria 06/14
turkishweekly.net Turkish President criticizes EP resolution on Turkey 06/14
usatoday.com In Syria, U.S. may find war centuries in the making 06/14
turkishpress.com Court arrests four in Turkey twin bombings 06/14
realclearworld.com Obama Syria Aid: Too Little, Too Late 06/14
turkishpress.com Five suspects of Reyhanli blasts sent to Adana court 06/14
telegraph.co.uk Syria: US to arm rebels - latest 06/14
reuters.com U.N. documents 93,000 deaths in Syrian conflict 06/13
dw.de White House has proof of chemical weapons in Syria 06/13
france24.com SYRIA: Syrian death toll soars to at least 93,000, UN says 06/13
ndtv.com UN says 93,000 killed in Syrian conflict 06/13
turkishpress.com "They have not understood Turkey," Turkish finmin says 06/13
globalvoicesonline.org Syria: 18 Journalists Killed in January 06/13
dailystar.com.lb Gemayel: Salman’s killer from same group as son’s 06/13
usatoday.com Do you know someone who is in Syria? 06/13
today.az Police and protester clashed in Ankara 06/13
turkishweekly.net Mossad chief met Turkish intelligence head 06/12
tamilguardian.com Kuwaiti supermarkets to boycott Iran over Assad support 06/12
israelnationalnews.com Israeli Mossad Chief Meets Turkish Intelligence Officer 06/12
turkishpress.com Gezi Park protester, member of terrorist organization 06/12
edition.cnn.com Turkey: 'Legitimate protesters' 06/12
bbc.co.uk Femen activists jailed in Tunisia 06/12
upi.com Cameron, Putin to meet and discuss civil war-torn Syria 06/12
en.rian.ru Transmissions from a Lone Star: Istanbul and the Trouble With Opposition 06/12
turkishpress.com "Certain circles on international media hurt Turkey's image" 06/12
turkishweekly.net Israel’s Mossad chief meets Turkish intel over Gezi protests 06/12
foreignpolicy.com How the War in Syria Has Helped to Inspire Turkey's Protests - By Sophia Jones 06/11
news24.com UK riot police swoop on G8 protesters 06/11
dw.de Syrian regime poised to set sights on Aleppo 06/11
reuters.com Analysis: Hezbollah tips Syria power balance, polarizes Lebanon 06/11
telegraph.co.uk Tear gas and fireworks as Turkish police battle protesters 06/11
voanews.com Twin Blasts Kill 14 in Syrian Capital 06/11
yahoo.com Turkey protests test Obama's ties with PM Erdogan 06/11
rferl.org The Rundown -- June 11 06/11
cnn.com Turkey looks for legitimate protesters 06/11
english.people.com.cn Syrian residents start returning to battered al-Qussair city 06/11
news.com.au Assad relatives lose Swiss entry case 06/11
euronews.com "Seculars don't understand Islamists and Islamists do not understand seculars" says Turkish analyst 06/11
yahoo.com Protest crackdowns test Obama ties with Turkish PM 06/11
english.farsnews.com Iranian Envoy Sees Bright Future for Syria 06/10
panorama.am Tanks in Beirut as Syria protest leaves one dead 06/10
english.farsnews.com Senior MP Calls Iran Root Cause of US Failure in Region 06/10
vancouversun.com Lebanese officials: Roadside bomb hits van en route to Syria 06/10
aysor.am Turkologist: Erdogan’s policy on Islamization of Turkey led to protests 06/10
ndtv.com Iraq hit by wave of bomb attacks, killing dozens 06/10
dailystar.com.lb Future protest in France urges more help for Syria 06/10
gmanetwork.com Syria forces ready Aleppo assault after Qusayr victory 06/10
jamestown.org Turkish Turmoil Adds Unpredictability to Putin’s Creeping Coup 06/10
upi.com One killed in Beirut protest 06/09
aina.org Iraq Hit By Wave of Bombings; Dozens Dead 06/09
cnn.com 1 dies in Syria protest in Beirut 06/09
voanews.com Gunfire Kills Anti-Hezbollah Protester in Beirut 06/09
aljazeera.com Deadly clash outside Iran embassy in Beirut 06/09
debka.com Turkish protest enters second week 06/09
dw.de Lebanese man dies in Syria-related Beirut clash 06/09
ynetnews.com Anti-Hezbollah protester killed in Lebanon 06/09
reuters.com Tanks in Beirut as Syria protest leaves one dead 06/09
english.farsnews.com Iran Sends More Medical Aid to Syria 06/09
news.com.au Syria forces ready to assault Aleppo 06/09
france24.com SYRIA - LEBANON: Man killed at Iranian embassy protest in Beirut 06/09
english.farsnews.com Source: Situation in Saudi Arabia Nearing Explosion 06/08
turkishweekly.net Thousands march in global protests against Israeli occupation 06/08
news.com.au UN launches record $5.4bn Syria aid appeal 06/07
voanews.com UN Launches $4.4 Billion Appeal to Help Syrians 06/07
foxnews.com Rebels attack air base in northern Syria 06/07
upi.com Turkey protests a new threat to Syria peace efforts 06/07
aina.org Turkey Unrest 'Payback' for Fueling Syria Insurgency? 06/07
csmonitor.com North Korea will talk to South Korea in bid to ease tension on the peninsula 06/06
turkishpress.com Gezi Park protests leave a police captain dead in Adana 06/06
csmonitor.com Syrian fighting spills into Golan Heights – and Israel's doorstep 06/06
news24.com Turkey unrest highlights leaders' rivalry 06/06

Summary

Syria has been in a state of emergency since 1963, which its governments justify by its state of war with Israel, and use to suspend its citizens’ constitutional rights. The al-Assad family, which has ruled since 1970, is Alawi Shiite, which is considered heretical by the majority Sunni population.

The 2011 uprising began on March 15th as simultaneous demonstrations occurred in major cities across the country. On April 25th, military forces besieged Daraa, using tanks and snipers, and cutting off water, power, and phone lines. By June 12th the city was reported to be under famine conditions with no supplies being allowed into the area. On June 10th, the Syrian army attacked Jisr-al Shughour in response to an alleged rebel ambush that resulted in the death of 120 policemen. Civilians claim the deaths were executions made by the Syrian army of soldiers refusing to fight. On July 31st, the Syrian army entered the city of Hama, firing on the public, and killing over 100 civilians in what was named the Ramadan Massacre.