[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Syrians head home from Turkey for holiday (30 May 2019) Syrian refugees living in Turkey have been arriving at the Bab al-Salama border crossing, north of the town of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo, to enter Syria and spend Eid al-Fitr. Since 18 May, hundreds of Syrians have entered through the crossing every day, reaching a total of just over 8,300 Syrians currently.
More than 20 civilians killed in attacks on Syria's northwest (29 May 2019) As the Unite Nations denounces the international community for allowing bloodshed in Idlib, and warns of a humanitarian catastrophe for the millions of civilians caught in the crossfire between the Syrian government and the opposition, twenty civilians were reportedly killed by aerial bombardment in the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria.
'Revenge is for the weak': Kurdish courts in northeastern Syria take on ISIS cases (29 May 2019) Authorities in Rojava have asked for an international war crimes tribunal to be set up within its boundaries, to handle trials of ISIS fighters accused of the most serious crimes. They say ISIS is an international problem and believe the countries international fighters came from need to be part of the justice system.
'Document hunters' smuggled hundreds of thousands of government files out of Syria. Here's how they did it (28 May 2019) Sometimes known as the "document hunters," these Syrians have been recruited and trained by former war crimes investigators and lawyers to smuggle hundreds of thousands of government documents out of war zones. Often sprinting past explosions and sniper fire to bring the papers to safety, they risk their lives to help hold the perpetrators of war crimes accountable.
SDF arrests Syrians who refuse to serve (28 May 2019) With tensions increasing between the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the local Arab population in northeastern Syria, the SDF has begun cracking down on young men refusing to serve in their forces, arresting them and sending them to training camps.
Fires, reduced prices disappoint northern Syria’s hopes for record harvest (26 May 2019) Thousands of acres of farmland have been destroyed by fires, dashing high hopes for a record harvest after years of anguish due to weather and war damage. Many residents blame ISIS sleeper cells or other shadowy actors.
Syrian forces pound rebel targets in the besieged northwest (26 May 2019) After hundreds of airstrikes, the town of Kafr Nabuda, in the north of Hama province, has been seized by the Syrian government’s forces after an aerial campaign by the Russian military helped overrun the remaining rebel groups.
Dozens dead as Syrian Army counterattacks Kafranbuda in response to Islamist gains (23 May 2019) The rate of bombing by Syrian government forces on northwest Syria increased after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched its attacks on Tuesday evening, seizing control a number of areas within the de-escalation zone agreed upon by Moscow and Ankara.
Afrin musician teaches region's musical heritage to children (21 May 2019) From the buzuq to the tanbur, a musician in northern Syria, Mostafa Bakr, teaches local children and adults how to play the string instruments of the region in a newly-opened music school in downtown Afrin.
Syrian government starts campaign to retake last opposition stronghold of Idlib (19 May 2019) The Syrian government and its allies seem poised to conclude the civil war as victors as the government begins its military campaign to retake the last remaining rebel-held stronghold in Idlib province.
Risk grows of ‘catastrophic humanitarian fallout’ in Syria’s Idlib, where 3 million are trapped: top UN officials urge unity in Security Council (17 May 2019) The United Nations’ Political and Humanitarian Affairs chiefs on Friday called on the Security Council to unite in support of an immediate de-escalation of fighting around Syria’s Idlib province, and work towards an enduring political solution on behalf of the Syrian people.
Protests in Deir e-Zor reveal divisions between locals of the Eastern Euphrates and the Autonomous Administration (16 May 2019) Popular mobilization continues to escalate in eastern Syria, as local tribes continue to agitate the international anti-ISIS coalition for greater local autonomy and an end to arbitrary raids. These protests have been to most visible example of mobilization since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took over the region in 2017.
On the anniversary of the peace deal in Southern Damascus “there is no amnesty, no reconciliation.” (14 May 2019) One year after a settlement was reached between the opposition in southern Damascus and the Syrian government, the regime has abandoned its promises of amnesty and seems to be intent on punishing the residents through crackdowns and conscription.
Aleppo crippled by fuel crisis (14 May 2019) Since early April, fuel shortages have crippled the city of Aleppo, with the situation only worsening with sanctions by the United States on Iranian oil and the decision by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to prevent smuggled oil from reaching the regime-held city.
Long-expected battle for Idlib may have begun (12 May 2019) With the assistance of massive Russian air power, the Syrian government has launched what seems to be a long-feared offensive to retake territories held by the opposition in northern Hama and Idlib, where an estimated three million people displaced from elsewhere are trapped.
Syrian opposition says it won’t accept Russian soldiers in demilitarized area (10 May 2019) Days after the twelfth round of the Astana talks, the Syrian government and Russia resumed heavy shelling in an assault on Idlib, reflecting indecision and disagreement between the participating actors.
Syrian government, opposition swap 18 more prisoners (7 May 2019) A series of small exchanges of prisoners in the province of Aleppo indicates progress between rebel groups and the Syrian government, though signs remain that further cooperation is desperately needed.
“Where is there left to go?” Three Clinics are hit in regime strikes in Northwest Syria (6 May 2019) Residents in northwestern Syria face dwindling options for medical services as the Syrian government’s assaults on Idlib continue to target civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and clinics, further exacerbating issues of displacement and shortages.
Displaced by Law (6 May 2019) Law No 10. leaves Damascus residents dispossessed of their properties, after the war made many homeless.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
“A true disaster”...Continuous escalation in North Western Syria displaces tens of thousands (5 May, 2019) Russia and the Syrian government have begun their most aggressive campaign in Idlib province yet after the twelfth round of the Astana talks concluded with participating members pledging to focus efforts on countering the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the al-Qa‘ida affiliate in Syria.
Regional and International Perspectives
Russia says an end to fighting in Syria's Idlib is Turkey's responsibility (31 May 2019) The Kremlin said on Friday it was Turkey’s responsibility to stop rebels in Syria’s Idlib province from firing on civilian and Russian targets, signaling it would continue to back a Syrian government offensive there despite Ankara’s protests.
Failure to ensure equity sows seeds of conflict, UN development chief says (30 May 2019) The head of the UN Development Program speaks with al-Monitor, discussing his agency’s sometimes perilous but essential work in places like Syria, how the global refugee crisis continues to inflame tensions, and the future of multilateralism amid a backlash against globalization.
U.S. calls Russian, Syrian air strikes 'reckless escalation' in Syria (28 May 2019) The United States continues to be alarmed by the Syrian government and Russian airstrikes in northwest Syria, and claims they are a “reckless escalation” of violence, as the international community braces for an expected humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib as the civil war seemingly draws to a close.
Can Russia, France work together to settle Idlib? (28 May 2019) With the question of Idlib looming over the international community, Russia, France, and Germany have intensified talks, though the countries thus far exhibit more disagreement than cooperation.
Turkey sends weapons to Syrian rebels facing Russian-backed assault: Syrian sources (25 May 2019) Turkey has re-supplied Syrian opposition groups in northern Syria in order to assist in staving off a major Russian-backed assault by the Syrian government in Idlib, the only remaining rebel stronghold in Syria, according to senior opposition officials.
Turkey squeezed between Russia, US in Syria (24 May 2019) After years of playing a balancing act between Russia and the US in Syria, Turkey appears to be on a collision course with both countries, as a foreign policy crash, as well as an economic one, seem imminent.
Russia repels militant rocket attack at its Syria air base - for second day in a row (23 May 2019) Opposition militants in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province fired four rockets, for the second day in a row, towards Russia's Hmeymim air base in Syria, but all the rockets were destroyed. Syrian government troops on Wednesday morning also repelled three big attacks by militants in Syria's Idlib province, the Russian Ministry of Defence said.
Congress forgoes Iran war restrictions to save anti-Assad bill (22 May 2019) The US Senate has struggled to pass a long-stalled Syria sanctions bill since 2016, even as the house has unanimously passed the largely noncontroversial legislation several times. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee finally advanced the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act by a twenty to two vote today. However, first, lawmakers had to vote down an amendment barring the Trump administration from attacking Iran.
Idlib offensive tests strength of Russia-Turkey ties in Syria (20 May 2019) With Turkey unwilling or unable to maintain its responsibilities in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, Russia’s patience appears to be wearing thin, as it throws its weight behind the Syrian government’s assaults in the northwest. This complicates Turkey’s efforts to play a balancing act between Russia and the United States in Syria.
Will the Trump administration abort Iran’s land bridge to the Mediterranean? (17 May 2019) As the showdown between Washington and Tehran escalates elsewhere in the Gulf, Iran is giving high priority to an effort to secure, control and reopen the al-Bukamal border crossing at Qaim, the only Syrian-Iraqi border crossing under Iranian control, to solidify its influence in the Levant and mitigate the impact of US sanctions.
Turkey denies it's building wall around Afrin (16 May 2019) Turkish-backed armed factions in northern Syria denied reports that Turkey is constructing a wall to separate the residents of Afrin from Aleppo’s countryside, saying Turkey is actually boosting its security against potential attacks by Kurdish fighters.
Turkey steps up efforts to stop all-out assault on Syria’s Idlib (15 May 2019) Turkey is intensifying diplomatic efforts with Russia to de-escalate violence in the northwest Syrian province of Idlib, its foreign minister said Wednesday, as it seeks to stave off an all-out assault on the opposition’s last stronghold that could spark a humanitarian disaster.
Intel: Why Turkey and Russia are not about to fall out over Idlib (14 May 2019) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing the Syrian government of seeking to “sabotage” Turkey’s relations with Russia with its assault on rebel-held Idlib. In a late-night phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Erdogan said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s attack on the de-escalation zone guaranteed by Moscow and Ankara had reached an “alarming dimension” that cannot be justified with claims of fighting terrorism. With civilian targets, including hospitals, being hit, joint efforts to end the eight-year-long conflict are at risk.
Can assault on Idlib facilitate a Russia-Turkey deal? (9 May 2019) As a Russian base comes under military shelling from insurgents, the Russian military assisted the Syrian government in its offensive on Idlib while rumors abound of a back-channel deal between Turkey and Russia.
Russia, UN eye benefits of partnering in post-war Syria (8 May 2019) As the civil war in Syria seems to be winding to a close, the international community’s interests in rebuilding Syria provides opportunities for enhanced coordination and partnership between Russia and the United Nations.
How US sanctions facilitate Turkish-Iranian understanding on Syria (8 May 2019) The United States’ increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and other means opens channels for cooperation between Iran and Turkey, including the issue of Syria, which both countries have been at odds over for many years.
Policy and Reports
Syria: Situation Report 4: Recent Developments in Northwestern Syria (as of 31 May 2019) Over the past week, airstrikes, shelling and ground fighting intensified across the demilitarized zone in northwest Syria, exacerbating the impact of the conflict on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian service provision in northern Hama, southern Idleb, and western Aleppo governorates.
Syria Floods Response, Emergency Plan of Action Operation Update, Appeal n° MDRSY004 (21 May 2019) Heavy rains starting on 31 March, resulted in serious flooding in the al-Hassakeh Governorate of Syria and continued during all April, leaving 235,000 people affected in towns and villages in the northeast of Syria.
Food Security & Conflict in Syria (14 May 2019) More than eight years of a morbid conflict in Syria dramatically impacted the food security of the ordinary people in particular and its indicators in general. The food security index dropped sharply by forty percent between the years of 2010 and 2018. The most severe deterioration was registered in accessing food products reaching as low as forty-six percent due to sieges, forced displacement, restrictions on movement, and the declining of purchasing power and income sources.
Inside Syria’s Secret Torture Prisons: How Bashar al-Assad Crushed Dissent (11 May 2019) As Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, closes in on victory over an eight-year revolt, a secret, industrial-scale system of arbitrary arrests and torture prisons has been pivotal to his success. While the Syrian military, backed by Russia and Iran, fought armed rebels for territory, the government waged a ruthless war on civilians, throwing hundreds of thousands into filthy dungeons where thousands were tortured and killed.
Walls Have Ears: An Analysis of Classified Syrian Security Sector Documents This report is based upon SJAC’s analysis of five thousand pages of documents obtained from intelligence agency offices that were abandoned by the government during the Syrian war. The analyzed documents provide a unique, contemporaneous record of the decision-making processes of the Syrian intelligence agencies, exposing not only serious human rights violations but also the extent.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here:
للجدران آذان: تحليل وثائق سرية من أجهزة الأمن السورية
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Tomb raiders turn to Facebook to peddle treasures stolen from conflict zones (31 May 2019) A decade after Facebook played a role in toppling regimes in the Arab Spring, opportunistic tomb raiders have turned to the platform to sell antiquities stolen in the wake of those uprisings.
Syria Situation Report: May 15 - 19, 2019 (30 May 2019) The following Syria Situation Report (SITREP) Map summarizes significant developments in the war in Syria during the period May 14 - 29, 2019. This SITREP coverage includes a reported chlorine gas attack by pro-Bashar al-Assad regime forces, weaponized drone use by al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and ISIS's targeting of U.S.-backed forces.
Film narrating life and love inside Aleppo wins best documentary at Cannes (May 26 2019) "For Sama," a documentary shot from inside besieged Aleppo, has been awarded the Prix L’Œil d’Or for Best Documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The documentary narrates the intimate and epic journey of one woman, twenty-six-year-old Syrian filmmaker Waad al-Kateab, through five years of life in the rebel-held city as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to her first daughter, Sama.
Podcast: Voices from the diaspora (20 May 2019) The world is still occupied with the “Syrian refugee question,” a question whose answer is found not only in policy, but also in the deeply touching stories that Syrians carry with them on their journey to a better life. Many of these stories are being heard for the first time.
Syrians seek refuge in Saudi Arabia (20 May 2019) Speaking to Syria Direct from a room in a youth hostel, Mohammed al-Zu’bi said he is, seeking asylum in Europe after four years in Saudi Arabia, where he was not allowed to work due to labor restrictions.
Syria Situation Report: April 27 - May 14, 2019 (16 May 2019) The following Syria Situation Report (SITREP) Map summarizes significant developments in the war in Syria during the period 27 April – 14 May,2019. The SITREP includes coverage of pro-Bashar al-Assad regime attacks, Iran's consolidation of control along the Syria-Iraq border, local backlash against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, and al-Qa‘ida's affiliate in Syria establishing greater dominance over the remaining forces in Idlib Province.
ISIS’s Opportunity in Northern Syria’s Detention Facilities and Camps (13 May 2019) ISIS has a unique and dangerous opportunity to exploit conditions in detention facilities and internally displaced persons’ camps across northern Syria.
Maps
Pro-Regime Air Campaign in Greater Idlib Province (25 May 2019) Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resumed an aggressive air campaign in Greater Idlib Province in late April 2019. The campaign included the use of barrel bombs against civilian targets and strikes against hospitals. Russia and Assad began a limited ground offensive enabled by this air campaign but have not expanded their strikes to the extent required to wage a larger near-term operation into Greater Idlib Province.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLEY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 20-26 MAY 2019 The Syrian government’s offensive against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idleb has slowed down after a counter-offensive by HTS. Several deadly ambushes against government forces were carried out by ISIS in central Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out security operations along the Euphrates in eastern Syria.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 13 - 19 MAY 2019 Syrian government forces continued to advance in the southwest corner of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Low-level attacks against government-aligned personnel continued in the south, while in Homs Governorate, evidence of ISIS’s enduring presence was once again evident.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 6 - 12 MAY 2019 Government forces begin advances against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in southwestern Idleb. Government-aligned personnel suffer several low-level attacks in the south and along the Euphrates River Valley, while protests have broken out in several cities.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 29 APRIL - 5 MAY 2019 Conflict erupted in Tel Rifaat and Idleb, while the government announced an anti-ISIS operation in the east. In the south, attacks against regime personnel continued.
Arabic
(29 May 2019)
قضى أكثر من خمسين طفلاً في دمشق وريفها بسبب انتشار مرض مجهول خلال الأشهر الماضية، فيما لم يستطع الأطباء تحديد ماهية هذا المرض الذي أرّق السكان، والذي كانت أعراضه تبدأ بارتفاع درجات الحرارة والخمول، يليه توقف وظائف الجسم بداية بالكلى وصولاً إلى الدماغ والقلب، إذ يدخل المريض في غيبوبة لمدة لا تتجاوز أسبوعاً قبل الوفاة.
الإيزيديون الفارون من داعش أشلاء مزقتها الحروب
(28 May 2019)
عبر سواتر ترابية متعرجة بناها الجيش العراقي، عبرت قوافل الإيزيديين الناجين من تنظيم داعش من نقطة الخاتونية على الحدود السورية إلى “منفذ الفاو” غير الرسمي على الجانب العراقي، بعد أسابيع من سيطرة قوات سوريا الديمقراطية على بلدة الباغوز وطرد التنظيم المتطرف من شرقي دير الزور. تستغرق رحلة الهاربين ساعات عدّة يسيرون فيها تحت هدير طائرات التحالف الجوي، محاولين تفادي الإصابة بالطلقات النارية والشظايا والألغام في مغامرة الهروب من جحيم المعارك الدائرة في آخر جيب للتنظيم في منطقة وادي الفرات.
(26 May 2019)
في عفرين، قادة فصائل يطلبون من أصحاب كروم الزيتون والعنب بجمع الثمر، وتجهيزه، لتأتي سيارة قائد الفصيل وتحميل الموسم لبيعه. بيع زيت عفرين وتم تصديره إلى الخارج، في كافة الدول الأوروبية، وقُدّرت عائدات الزيت لوحده 100 مليون دولار.
(26 May 2019)
بضع عشرات من المشيعين اجتمعوا في الثامن عشر من أيار في مقبرة حمص، يعرف الجميع بعضهم البعض فهم من القلة الذي بقوا في المدينة إضافة لبعض أفراد العائلة ممن لم يهاجروا بعد، بحثت عن وجوهٍ اعتقدت أنها لن تفوّت وداع شخصٍ بقامة الطيب تيزيني، إلا أنني لم أجدها، إذ غاب مثلاً حضور أي ممثل عن وزارة التعليم العالي واتحاد الكتاب العرب.
برنامج القنديل | الباحث السوري في الشؤون الفلسفية والفكرية د. الطيب تيزيني | حلقة 2017.9.24
بمناسبة رحيل الطيب التيزيني، قناة الغد تعيد بث حوار أجراه معه الإعلامي أكرم خزام.
بعد مشكلة الأسعار.. الحرائق تلتهم آمال مزارعي شمالي شرق سوريا بـ"موسم جيد"
(25 May 2019)
بحسب إحصائيات تقديرية حصلت عليها سوريا على طول، بلغت مساحة الأراضي المحروقة في محافظة الرقة نحو 70 ألف دونم مزروع بالقمح والشعير، بخسائر "تقدر بنحو 6 ملايين دولار".
The English version of this article can be found here:
Fires, reduced prices disappoint northern Syria’s hopes for record harvest
إيلي كوهين وإخفاقات الموساد: جاسوس أقل من عادي وأسْطَرَة غير عادية
(243 May 2019)
كانت الغاية اختراع جاسوس خارق وأسْطَرَته واستخدام نتائج ذلك في الحرب النفسية ضد العرب، والمفاخرة أمام الغرب بقدرة الموساد على الاختراق والتسلل. والحقيقة العارية هي أن إيلي كوهين يمثل أحد الإخفاقات الشائنة للموساد. وهاكم التفصيل.
خالد خليفة في "لم يُصلّ عليهم أحد"
(22 May 2019)
يذهب الكاتب والروائي خالد خليفة، في روايته الجديدة (لم يصل عليهم أحد) نحو التاريخ، وتحديدا نحو تاريخ حلب، ساردا هويتها المتعددة دينياً وقومياً واقتصادياً، ومتحدثا عن التيارات الثقافية المتعددة حينها، والصراعات بينها. رواية قدمت لنا، قدراً عالياً من الأفكار حول الهوية الوطنية للمدينة، حيث العلاقات المتينة بين العائلات المختلفة دينياً.
"للجدران آذان".. وثائق سرية تكشف ممارسات أجهزة الأمن السورية
(21 May 2019)
نشر المركز السوري للعدالة والمساءلة تقريرا حول وثائق سرية لأجهزة الأمن السورية تغطي مناطق دير الزور والرقة والطبقة إضافة إلى إدلب. بحسب المركز فإن تحليل هذه الوثائق يشكل فرصة نادرة لمعرفة ما يدور في المؤسسات الأمنية السورية بشكل يومي، ويقدم دليلا ملموسا حول ممارسات شملت اعتقالات واستخدام العنف مع اندلاع الأزمة في سوريا عام 2011، إضافة إلى لمحة عن أوامر قمعية تطال الأكراد بشكل خاص.
المخرجة السورية وعد الخطيب تتحدث عن فيلمها "من أجل سما"
(21 May 2019)
تستضيف ليانا صالح في هذا العدد من برنامج "موعد في كان" المخرجة السورية وعد الخطيب صاحبة فيلم "من أجل سما" الوثائقي الذي اختاره مهرجان كان السينمائي بفرنسا في عرض خاص.
(21 May 2019)
يمكن تلخيص استقطابات السوريين، من خلال أصداء رحيل الدكتور الطيب تيزيني الذي توفي يوم الجمعة 17 أيار (مايو) الجاري: استنكر إسلاميون، ومنهم قادة في المعارضة، الترحم عليه باعتباره "علمانياً وملحداً"، فيما هاجمه موالون للسلطة على صفحات التواصل الاجتماعي واعتبروه "خائناً"
هل بنت تركيا جداراً في عفرين لعزلها عن ريف حلب؟
(16 May 2019)
تداولت مواقع إعلاميّة عدّة، من بينها المرصد السوريّ لحقوق الإنسان منذ 20 نيسان/أبريل 2019 معلومات حول بناء الجيش التركيّ جداراً إسمنتيّاً حول عفرين يهدف إلى عزلها عن مناطق ريف حلب في شمال غرب سوريا، ومن ثمّ ضمّها إلى الأراضي التركيّة في مراحل لاحقة.
The English version of this article can be found here:
Turkey denies it's building wall around Afrin
النزوح في إدلب مع ذكريات "الشظايا المحفورة على الجدران" وما تبّقى من الكتب
(16 May 2019)
حطّم أحمد الصباح، 44 عاماً، رقماً قياسياً في النزوح، حتى أصبح النزوح مشهداً اعتيادياً له ولعائلته "نزحت 15 مرة، عدا عن النزوح المؤقت لساعات أو أيام في الكهوف والملاجئ القريبة"، عشرة منها كانت داخل مدينة كفرنبل، وانتهى به المطاف منها إلى مدينة إدلب بعد التصعيد العسكري للقوات الحكومية على ريف إدلب الجنوبي.
The English version of this article can be found here:
“The wall engraved with shrapnel” and the remains of books: Memories of displacement in Idlib
علبة سردين فارغة بدلاً من ملك وحصانه
(15 May 2019)
ملف عن الفنان التشكيلي السوري يوسف عبدلكي، الذي تتوزع أعماله على عدد كبير من المؤسسات والمتاحف، بما فيها المتحف البريطاني في لندن ومعهد العالم العربي في باريس.
حلب: أزمة الوقود تشلّ قطاع النقل وتزيد من معاناة الناس وأسعار المحروقات ترتفع في السوق السوداء
(14 May 2019)
تشهد مدينة حلب الواقعة تحت سيطرة النظام السوريّ في شمال سوريا أزمة وقود منذ بداية شهر نيسان/أبريل 2019، وما تزال مئات السيّارات الخاصّة والعامّة تقف في شكل يوميّ أمام محطّات بيع الوقود في طوابير طويلة للحصول على كمّيّات قليلة، وتسبّبت ندرة الوقود في شلّ حركة النقل العامّ والخاصّ في المدينة، وارتفعت أجور المواصلات، كما ارتفعت أسعار الوقود في السوق السوداء.
The English version of this article can be found here:
Aleppo crippled by fuel crisis
في الذكرى السنوية لاتفاق المصالحة بجنوب دمشق "لا عفو ولا تسويات، والمطلوب بقي مطلوباً"
(12 May 2019)
منذ دخول القوات الحكومية إلى جنوب دمشق - عقب اتفاق المصالحة - بدأت أذرعها الأمنية تتغلغل في المنطقة، ورافق ذلك تضييقاً أمنياً على الأهالي.
The English version of this article can be found here:
On the anniversary of the peace deal in Southern Damascus “there is no amnesty, no reconciliation.”
المساكنة في سوريا… اختبار لنجاح الزواج أم عصيان اجتماعي؟
(9 May 2019)
لم يتطرق القانون السوري لموضوع المساكنة بشكل مباشر، فلا تتناول نصوصه موضوع العيش المشترك بين المرأة والرجل وإقامة علاقة جنسية تحت سقف واحد دون رابط عقد الزواج. وبينما يسمح قانون العقوبات بالحرية الجنسية للرجل والمرأة العازبين وهو من ضمن الحقوق الشخصية التي يصونها الدستور، إلا أن القانون أحياناً يعتبر المساكنة جريمة يعاقب عليها تحت اسم الزنا، ويعتبرها من الجنح المخلة بآداب الأسرة
من رائدة إلى رائد: بحثا عن هوية... أنثى أم رجل؟
(9 May 2019)
من بيت تقليدي ومحافظ إلى زواج تقليدي انتقلت رائدة وهي في سن الثانية عشر من عمرها لتواجه مصيرا بائسا انتهى إلى محاولة حرقها مع طفليها الذين فارقوا الحياة. لم تكن رائدة تعرف أن هذه الحادثة ستدفعها لاتخاذ قررات جرئي، تبدأ من الهرب بعد التنكر بجسد ذكر، لتنتهي إلى اكتشاف ميولها وهويتها الجنسية الجديدة.
كيف تتمّ عمليّات تبادل المعتقلين بين النظام والمعارضة في معبر أبو الزندين في شمال حلب؟
(7 May 2019)
جرت عمليّة تبادل أسرى بين النظام السوريّ والمعارضة المسلّحة في 22 نسيان/أبريل 2019، وذلك في معبر أبو الزندين قرب مدينة الباب في ريف حلب الشماليّ-الشرقيّ، الذي يفصل مناطق المعارضة عن مناطق النظام، وتمّت بموجب العمليّة مبادلة 9 مقاتلين تابعين إلى قوّات النظام كانوا أسرى لدى المعارضة، مقابل الإفراج عن 9 معتقلين كانوا في سجون النظام تسلّمتهم المعارضة في عمليّة التبادل.
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Syrian government, opposition swap 18 more prisoners
مركز لتعليم الأطفال الصم والبكم بريف حلب
(7 May 2019)
تسببت الحرب السورية وعمليات القصف بمختلف أنواع الأسلحة بوقوع عدد من آلاف المصابين بإعاقات مختلفة. يعيش هؤلاء المصابين ظروفاً قاسية، ويعانون من التهميش إضافة لغياب الرعاية الطبية والنفسية والتعليمية، في وقت هم بأمس الحاجة لمن يهتم بهم ويساعدهم في التخفيف من أثقال الإعاقة التي تحد قدراتهم، مما دفع مجموعة من المتطوعين إلى افتتاح مركز للأطفال الصم والبكم في مدينة أورم الكبرى بريف حلب الغربي.
المرأة السورية في السينما والمسرح
(4 May 2019)
شكلت الفنانات سنة 2011 جزءاً من المجتمع السوري الذي انتفض ضد الديكتاتورية. وكان هم الفنانات الثائرات الاحتجاج على الآليات الفكرية التي تمنعهن من ممارسة حقوقهن والتعبير عن آرائهن. بعد 7 سنوات من هذه الثورة، يمكن الجدل إن كانت النتيجة مفائلة أو مخيبة للآمال، ولكن رغم عدم حدوث تغيير كبير في واقع السينمائيات والمسرحيات، إلا أنه يجب احترام تحديهن للمجتمع عبر الفن ونشر الأفكار التي تشجع على التمرد والثورة على كل النظم الاستبدادية والإقصائية.