Syrian Expats Lend Support to Protests From Abroad

Quoted by Jeff Swicord, VOA

For many Syrian dissidents scattered around the world, the anti-government backlash in Syria is bittersweet. They support political change at home, but they are horrified by the government’s brutal crackdown.

From the basement office of his home in the U.S., Ammar Abdulhamid does his part to support what he calls the Syrian revolution. Like many Syrian expatriates, Abdulhamid keeps in regular contact with people inside the country, following events and forwarding what he learns through his blog: Syrian Revolution Digest. Continue reading “Syrian Expats Lend Support to Protests From Abroad” →

Protests Will Only Grow, Democracy Activist Predicts

Quoted by NPR

Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian living in exile in the United States who writes about the democracy movement there and has become an informal spokesman for those who oppose the Assad regime, told All Things Considered host Robert Siegel today that the Syrian president and those in his regime must step down because today’s crackdown and killings show that they are not serious about any of the concessions they have offered in recent days.

And Abdulhamid predicted that the protests will only continue to grow as more Syrians turn against the regime because of its violent response to the protesters’ demands. Continue reading “Protests Will Only Grow, Democracy Activist Predicts” →

The Future of the Christian Communities in the Muslim World

One manifestation of the troubled state of current identity politics within Muslim communities is evident in the way some elements are targeting the region’s Christian communities. While Al-Qaeda style violence might the new development in this regard, the trend itself is not that new. Continue reading “The Future of the Christian Communities in the Muslim World” →

Syrian Novelist Talks About Impediments to Greater Democracy in the Arab World

By Douglas Schuette, Arab America – Washington

Washington-based democracy activist Ammar Abdulhamid says virtually no progress has been made in opening up the political system in his native Syria since he fled the country more than five years ago. He and his family were forced into exile in 2005 because of his outspoken criticism of the regime.

Abdulhamid says the situation has instead grown “increasingly dismal,” with more crackdowns on political opponents than ever before. Continue reading “Syrian Novelist Talks About Impediments to Greater Democracy in the Arab World” →