On Friday, the president of the United States signed an executive order freezing entrance into the US from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and suspending all refugee admission for 120 days. The countries banned are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen. This order has caused outcry from human rights organizations, legal scholars, and the international community. This week Her Campus Lasell will feature an informational article on each country whose citizens have been banned from the US in order to increase understanding of the complex nature of these countries and their citizens.
*The language in the executive order calls for the indefinite ban of all nationals and refugees from Syria.
Syria
Demographics
Syria, also known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia bordered by Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. The two largest cities in Syria, Aleppo and Damascus, are the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. A majority of people are located around the Euphrates river basin. The largest ethnic group are Syrian Arabs, followed by the northern-based Kurds. Sunni Muslims make up 74 percent of the Arab population, while 13 percent are Shia Muslims. Hypothetically, primary school is free and compulsory for all children between ages 6-12. However, the infrastructure of Syria has collapsed since the start of the 2011 civil war. Currently an estimated 11 million people have been displaced by the civil war.
History
The first civilization in Syria is estimated to have been founded in 3500 BCE. The city was in trade communication with ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Sumer. The region was eventually conquered by the Greek-Macedonian Empire, who gave it the name, Syria. In the 1500s the Ottoman Turks conquered Syria, and ruled for the next four hundred years. During World War I, Syria became the final stop on the death march of the Ottoman orchestrated Armenian and Assyrian Genocides. In 1920 the borders of Syria were negotiated between Britain and France, and an independent Syria joined the League of Nations. This independence didn’t last long; within a few months France invaded and declared Syria a French mandate. The Syrians fought back through both military and diplomatic means, however they did not gain their independence from France until after the second World War. In 1946 the Syrian Republic was formed. Conflict and upheaval defined the next two decades, with Syria being involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, as well as experiencing numerous coups and government changes. In 1970, Hafez al-Assad took power through a coup, splitting the then ruling Ba’ath party into two factions. Hafez ruled until his death in 2000, when his son, Bashir al-Assad took over. With this new rule came hope for reform, however Bashir’s rule brought even more political oppression and imprisonment. In 2011, the Syrian people peacefully revolted against their government in the Arab Spring uprisings. The government responded with military violence, and soon the revolutionaries created the Syrian Free Army in response. The Syrian Civil War began, displacing millions of Syrians and killing thousands of civilians, including children. The war still continues today.
Government
In 2012, Syria adopted a new constitution, which transformed the country into a presidential republic. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government, The constitution requires the president of Syria to be Muslim, but does not establish Islam as the national religion. The president has the power to declare war, administer laws, amend the constitution, and appoint civil servants. The legislative branch of the government consists of elected representatives from numerous political parties in Syria. Syria’s judicial branch consists of elements from French, Ottoman, and Islamic law. Religious courts handle matters of personal and family law. There was a parliamentary election held in 2016 in the government held region of Syria. This election was not recognized as legitimate by a majority of the international community.
Human Rights
In 2010, prior to the Arab Spring uprisings, Syria was considered one of the worst countries in the world when it came to human rights. The authorities are accused of arresting activists, censoring and detaining critics, imposing travel bans, arbitrary detention, torture, and disappearances. Legislation discriminates against women and girls, specifically in its leniency towards honor killings. During the initial uprisings in 2011, the UN estimated that 3,500 people were killed by their government, including 250 children. Gang rapes of young boys by security officers were common. In 2013 the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its own people. In reaction to the conflict, the Syrian government has suspended almost all constitutional protections for its citizens.
Terrorism
Since the Syrian Civil War, terrorism in Syria has increased exponentially. Terrorist acts have been primarily carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra. From 2011-2012, eighty suicide bombings were recorded in Syria, with a majority of them being carried out by al-Nusra. ISIS is located primarily on the Northern border of Syria, and is engaged in battles with the Syrian Kurds, Turkey, and the United States. Syria has also been accused of state-sponsored terrorism against its own people.
US-Syria Relations
Following the 9/11 attacks in 2011, US and Syria began limited cooperation on intel and security measures. Syria became the most common destination for the US to send enemies to be tortured for information. Relations began to weaken due to Syria’s disapproval of the War in Iraq. In 2006 the American Embassy in Damascus was unsuccessfully attacked, leading to economic sanctions against Syria. In 2010 the US and Syria attempted to mend relations. However, Syria’s use of violence against Arab Spring uprisings garnered criticism from the US. US-Syria relations have been officially non-existent since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Prior to the recent election, the United States refused to accept any peace deal that would place Bashir al-Assad back in power.
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