Hopes for democracy in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia were dashed but Syrians believe this time can be different
As jubilant Syrians celebrated the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad this week, dire warnings proliferated across Arabic social media: that this joyful moment could lead to a bleak future. That the end of the Assad dynasty came at the hands of an armed Islamist group with former links to al-Qaeda, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, deepened alarm even among Arabs well aware of the blood-soaked record of Assad’s regime.
The lesson from Tunisia, said Olfa Lamloum, a political scientist in Tunis, is that “democratic freedoms cannot survive without the basics of a dignified life. “Protests in the past 10 years by the unemployed and others have been about social and economic rights,” she said. “People have to see that their lives are changing for the better.” After an uprising in Libya ousted Muammer Gaddafi in 2011, the country split under two rival governments.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Germany loses patience with its MILLION Syrians: Politicians on left and right say migrants...In Germany, Syrians' jubilation at the fall of Assad was swiftly replaced by anxiety as lawmakers across the political spectrum began trumpeting ideas about how best to deport them.
Read more »
Germany loses patience with its MILLION Syrians: Politicians on left and right say migrants...In Germany, Syrians' jubilation at the fall of Assad was swiftly replaced by anxiety as lawmakers across the political spectrum began trumpeting ideas about how best to deport them
Read more »
No one in the West has the right to lecture Syrians about celebratingAssad subdued a people through his torture chambers. Those free of him deserve nothing but joy
Read more »
Syrians in London: 'Relief but also stress' on Assad's downfall'I feel like I'm in a dream and I don't want to wake up,' says Amr Shayah who fled Syria following the civil war in 2011.
Read more »
Hundreds of Syrians line up at Turkish border crossing awaiting return homeMany arrived at the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar border gates at daybreak, draped in blankets and coats.
Read more »
Syrians at Calais say they will STILL make the crossing to Britain despite Assad being toppled...'No country to support us': Rebel leader Al-Golani on taking control of Syria. Syrian opposition leader Abu Mohammad al Jolani praised his fighters after taking control of Syria and ousting President Assad.
Read more »