War Arrives in Damascus: One Activist’s Account
UN human rights investigators say the violence in Syria is spiralling out of control. (Photo: BBC Video)
Day-to-day life for Amer al-Sadeq, an activist with the Syrian Revolution Coordinators’ Union is far from secure. He’s seen up to 400 soldiers patrol his Damascus neighborhood. An unexploded ordinance sits outside his home. And Tuesday his President Bashar al Assad admitted that his country, Syria, is now in a “state of war.”
“I think it’s better he [Assad] put it this way. At least people will know that he’s at war against his own people,” says al-Sadeq.
Al-Sadeq blames Syria’s Alawite minority for most of the violence. And he doesn’t foresee a day soon when Alawites live peacefully alongside other Syrians.
“The Syrian people are very tolerant. But nobody is going to be tolerant to anyone who killed people without any discrimination,” he says. “We have taken many bullets with our bare chests. The opposition works day and night to win. Nobody can defeat the people, no matter how long it takes.”
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!