The unwillingness and inability of the world community for many months now to take a strong stand against the deepening human rights catastrophe in Syria has been a source of global shame and disgrace. As evidence mounts that the insidious tentacles of Syria’s feared Mukhabarat intelligence service are behind a spreading pattern of threats and attacks against Syrians living abroad, including in Canada, that inaction must give way to decisive steps to protect human rights.
Spurred on by the exhilaration of the mass protest movements that toppled seemingly untouchable strongmen presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Syrians have taken to the streets and to the digital world with unprecedented and determined courage, demanding that decades of repression and relentless human rights violations come to an end. They have called out for reforms that will bring the justice and freedom that they have been denied for generations.
President Bashar al-Assad’s response has been swift and unrelenting. Unceasingly, protesters have been shot dead in the streets and died in prisons under torture. As many as 3,000 Syrians may have been killed; killed simply because they stood up for their internationally protected rights. We do not know how many more languish in prison. Thousands of Syrians have fled to neighbouring Turkey. There is no question, Syria has become engulfed in an unending campaign of crimes against humanity – the only motive being to hold on to power and keep freedom at bay.
Equally shocking though has been to watch the rest of the world dither and helplessly wring its hands while this tragedy goes on. Undisputedly, it is an obvious agenda item for the UN Security Council. But no such luck for hopeful Syrians, who have imagined that governments that took such a strong stand as events unfolded in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya would also be there for them. The Security Council did manage one presidential statement fretting about the situation in Syria, two months ago. But there has not been a single resolution, no decision to do anything to help bring the crisis to an end.
Amnesty International has documented that the patterns of repression and efforts to sow fear extend far beyond Syria’s borders. Syrians living abroad have understandably done what they can to support the courageous campaign launched by their friends and loved ones back home. They have mounted their own protests and vigils at Syrian embassies and consulates around the world. They have blogged and taken to Facebook with their demands for change.
In Canada and the United States, in Chile, Sweden, France and other countries, they have been singled out for threats, attacks and reprisals. Their relatives and friends back in Syria have often paid a steep price. Some have been imprisoned, others badly beaten. And to date, in no country is there much evidence of local authorities taking concrete steps to investigate these crimes and ensure that members of the Syrian community can speak out and protest safely and securely.
The line must be drawn. Off at the UN, members of the Security Council must surely, finally find the will to tackle the spiralling crisis in Syria. And at a minimum, governments around the world must take a firm and very public stand against any harassment or attacks against Syrians in their countries.
In Canada, Syrians across the country have described to Amnesty International that they have been targeted here and their families targeted back in Syria. Among others, they point to staff at the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa as being behind the campaign of threats and intimidation. Many are too fearful to come forward and make an official police complaint.
Against the backdrop of global inaction, the Canadian government has taken a number of steps on its own in response to the worsening situation in Syria, including an arms embargo and sanctions, freezing of assets and travel bans against a number of Syrian officials. That should now be mirrored by forceful measures to curtail the harassment and threats experienced by Syrians in Canada.
At a minimum, Canada must be a safe place for Syrians who clamour for reform. There should be serious police investigations mounted, even when people may be too fearful to lodge a formal complaint. If diplomatic immunity stands in the way of laying criminal charges, then at least steps should be taken to declare the culprits personae non gratae and demand that they leave Canada. Canada should press other governments to follow its lead in confronting this export of Syrian repression around the globe.
And Canada should continue to plead, cajole and embarrass the many governments who continue to stand in the way of wider global action on Syria. The crisis is not going away; quite the contrary, it is seeping out around the world. It has to be stopped.
Alex Neve is secretary general of Amnesty International Canada.
