Al Jadid: A True Gem

(This was supposed to be a short post, to fill in while I continued working on Part II of "Syria’s Ancient and Modern Mosaic." Like most recent posts it kept growing because I kept tracking down related items on the Web. Since summer is supposedly a good time to explore both online and offline, I hope you will take time to visit Al Jadid online, finding there not only its own riches but pathways to print media resources and novels, perhaps some you might find in your local library. Enjoy!)

UPDATE: I've added Mohammad Ali Atassi's eloquent, heart-wrenching but hopeful New York Times (June 27, 2011) op-ed piece to the Resources.

INTRODUCTION

"Shu iktashaft?" (What was your big discovery?). My big discovery last week was Al Jadid, a gem I found online while searching for sources on Islam in Syria.

Al Jadid is a quarterly print magazine devoted to Arab culture and the arts. It contains much topical material relevant to courses in world literature, art history, world history, and global affairs–much of it available in a very generous online archive. Its scope spans the Arab world, including the Arab diaspora. It is an excellent source of information about Arab-Americans, their literature, and issues related to being Arab or Arab-American (while living in the US and trying to connect or re-connect with Arab culture and history). Author Amy Wilentz discovered here "a wealth of opinion and information that no one else is publishing in English."

Elie Chalala, the editor of Al Jadid, was born in Lebanon, where he lived in Beirut until he left for the US about 30 years ago. He is a widely respected academic, with a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California Los Angeles. If you Google him, you’ll find not only his syllabi but long lists resources he has put online for his courses (see his Santa Monica College page: http://homepage.smc.edu/chalala_elie/).

Each issue has been put together, intentionally, to challenge conventional ideas about Arab culture, arts, and intellectual trends. The editor and staff are proud that Al Jadid has "covered scores of Arab intellectuals and artists under fire from the state or extremists" and that it has featured "lively debates between secular and religious, traditional and modernist voices" (see "About" on the home page). Elie Chalala is keenly aware of how context, and in particular politics and geopolitics, shapes cultural expression:

"In the U.S. we’ve had the demonizing and marginalizing of Arabs; in the Arab world, we have censorship issues, wars, civil strife, the vestiges of the colonial mentality, and the endless peace process. All of these factors impact and shape culture, and often find their most poignant, elegant expression in the arts."

For the current issue go to the home page (http://www.aljadid.com/). Running across the top is a menu from which you can access lists of essays and features, book reviews, interviews, and much more. Sample these lists and, thanks to serendipity, I bet you’ll find great material to consult as background when preparing lessons or that you can use directly with students (mostly high school and above). What’s most exciting (especially if you are unfamiliar with, for example, modern Arab literature in translation) is discovering the work of a new author or bumping into a fresh ideas. To entice you to explore Al Jadid, I’m going to present a few examples, but I won’t provide the URLs (so you’ll have to look for them on the site and, I hope, discover other useful items while you are there).

Essays and Features

When I printed the list (with a fairly small font), it ran to ten pages! There are numerous articles by Syrian writers, journalists, and academics. Scattered throughout the list are articles by Elie Chalala himself, a real boon since their peer-reviewed counterparts are mostly behind pay-walls or in JSTOR. (By the way, if you want to verify that Chalala is a real scholar, search Google Scholar.)

Another frequent contributor is Mohammad Ali Atassi, a Syrian journalist based in Beirut, whose comments on current events I’d already encountered in mainstream media (NPR, Los Angeles Times) and on the blog Syria Comment). Where did he fit into the spectrum of Middle East opinion? Curious to learn more about him, I searched the web and discovered that his family--prominent in Homs since the 16th century--included historical figures of major importance during much of the 20th century. (So I suggest sending students to do a similar search.)

The following articles give some sense of the variety of topics covered in Al Jadid:

1) Michael Teague’s "Syria Open Sesame?" is a timely piece for all of us who are current events buffs. Teague’s critique of four articles from the New York Times (a reputable newspaper despite its warts) reveals how media reaches out for a theme, ties it to a particular event or trend, and then adopts it as a framing device for a wild assortment of stories. This is a recurrent problem in US media, where reporters struggle to cast complex stories in terms that they imagine will make sense to ordinary Americans. Teague suggests that Kareem Fahim and other NYT journalists were so intrigued by signs that Syria was finally "opening up" that they ignored signs pointing in the opposite direction. Thus he finds Fahim’s reportage perceptive but out-of-balance. Only one of the four articles is properly described as "new analysis," however; the others are what we’d call human interest stories. Of course, when it comes to writing feature articles, journalists working for US media, must always ask themselves: What will catch the attention of American readers? In short, while I’d don’t entirely agree with Teague’s critique, I do think he raises very important issues, such as the influence of Washington and the US foreign policy establishment on media analysis of what’s happening in key regions or countries.

An additional benefit of using Teague’s article as a platform for a media literacy exercise (see Activities) is that it ties so directly into current events, especially the Fahim article about the Syrian government’s treatment of its resident Islamists.

2) An article of special interest to world literature and history instructors is Simone Fattal’s "The Passing of a Great Syrian Writer: Ilfat Idilbi, 1912-2007." Idilbi, born in Damascus and one of its beloved "cultural pillars," stands out as a pioneer among Arab women writers and as a nationalist and a feminist. Her novel Sabriya: Damascus Bitter Sweet is set during the revolt against the French in the 1920s (when Syria was a French mandate). The setting of her last book, The Story of My Grandfather, gives readers a vivid portrait of Ottoman Damascus during the late 19th century. I’m putting both books on my personal reading list, but I’ll start with Sabriya since it is easy to see how it would fit into a world history course (or a seminar in European imperialism), where it might be paired with a novel set in French Indochina or French West Africa. Both books are available in new and used copies from online vendors.
　

Interviews

1) For anyone wanting an introduction to Sufism, Sabah Zwein’s interview with Stefan Reichmuth is very informative. Reichmuth, a professor of Islamic Studies, gives a concise explanation of Sufi doctrine and clarifies the changing status of Sufism in the Ottoman Empire. What I found most valuable, however, was his brief discussion of Sufism as "a kind of civic organization" appealing to people outside the formal political structure but also serving as a bridging institution for immigrant communities. This approach to Sufism brings it into a broader analysis of civil society (where I now suspect it belongs).

2) Rebecca Joubin’s interview, "Syrian Artist Walid Agha Searches for the Spirit of the Letters," introduces the work of a fascinating artist. What intrigued me, as an instructor of world history, was Agha’s early exposure to a very deep tradition of Assyrian decorative art that, amazingly, he was exposed to as a child and his experimentation with Sumerian and Assyrian script in his highly original calligraphy. His work illustrates how cultural traditions are renewed through what Jan Vansina calls "repetition with difference."

Book Reviews

What makes this section invaluable are the reviews of books published in Arabic, whose content would otherwise be unavailable to many of us. In addition to the specialized information that we may glean from such reviews their true value lies in how they expose us the perspectives of books written for Arab audiences and thus shaped by concerns and issues that Arab writers and intellectuals deem important.

The list gives you the title of the review and its author--rather than title of the book under review and its author. So you’ll have to scan the lists and try to guess what the book may be about. This just makes exploring the list more enjoyable–though if pressed for time you might miss something good the first time around.

Here are three examples from the book review section:

1) Andrea Sahlal-Esa, "Rethinking the Mediterranean," reviews a book for all you world history fans (fanatics?). It was fairly easy to guess that the book itself might be a somewhat updated version of Breudel’s classic. Certainly, Iain Chambers's Mediterranean Crossings: The Politics of an Interrupted Modernity (Duke University Press, 2008) is a worthy companion and one with "a long overdue reclamation of the often hidden Arabic and Islamic history" of the region. If you haven’t already consulted this book, reading this review will convince you to put it high on your list.

2) In "Burdened Histories" Bhakati Shringarpure examines Anne Nivat’s The Wake of War: Encounters with the People of Iraq and Afghanistan (Beacon Press, 2005). Nivat is a reporter, as the reviewer puts it, "committed to long durations of travel and sustained conversations," which makes this book potentially a source of primary material for use in global studies as well as history classes. I also encourage language and reading teachers to take a look at this review and Nivat's book, where you’ll probably discover material adaptable to use in class.   The review leaves the impression that Nivat is a masterful writer of vignettes so doing an analysis of her craftsmanship might find a place in composition classes.

3) What drew me to Michael Najjar’s "Embracing Inbetweenness" was the title’s implicit mystery. In between what? This is a review of Sarah M. A. Gualtieri’s amazing book, Between Arab and White: Race and Ethnicity in the Early Syrian American Diaspora (University of California Press, 2009).

Now I’m generally familiar with how genes have flowed from nearly all directions into the Arab gene pool (an Arab being anyone who self-identifies as Arab). When I see curly-haired, café au lait Libyans, Yemenis, and Iraqis I suspect that this may be due to a remote genetic infusion from the Bilad as-Sudan or the Zanj coast or even further afield. (The Syrian firebrand, red-headed and fair-skinned preacher, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, represents the other extreme of the continuum!) I was also generally aware of the racial conundrum that Middle Easterners and South Asians posed (still pose) in race conscious America. Yet this review refers briefly to an event in 1929 that I would not have imagined. Read the review and then get the book, where Gualtieri shares this and other horrifying stories.

ACTIVITIES

DISCUSS: Elie Chalala, when asked why he decided to make Arab literature and arts the focus of Al Jadid, gave this answer: "I think literature, anywhere in the world, provides an escape from political oppression. ... Literature remains the only area in society where individuals can escape the yoke of the state and express themselves." Use this quote to jump-start a discussion of any novel or short-story that reflects the experience of an author living in or writing about an authoritarian state.

MEDIA LITERACY PROJECT: First, assign Michael Teague’s article, "Syria Open Sesame?" DISCUSS the article to make sure that students understand Teague’s main points and can identify the issues he is raising. Then ask students to find and read the four NYT that he critiques (or three, if you want to omit Robert F. Worth’s article). If your students need to practice searching for specific items, send them to the NYT site to find and print the articles (rather than giving them the URLs, which are listed in Resources for your convenience). WRITE: After reading the NYT articles, students should evaluate Teague’s critique (that is, do a critique of the critique). Do they think Teague being fair in his analysis? Do they agree with Teague? Perhaps, they partly do, partly don’t. Ask students to write essays presenting their original analysis, stressing tha they must explain their points with specific reference to Teague and to the NYT articles. For advanced high school students this is a good exercise that will prepare them for critical reading and expository writing at the college-level.

RESEARCH: Explain to students that when evaluating online sources it is desirable to obtain background biographical information about the authors to have a better sense of what may be shaping their perspectives and opinions. Since Muhammad Ali Atassi is a frequent contributor to Al Jadid articles, send students to the Web to find out more about him and his family. Who was his father? Why is he based in Lebanon rather than Syria? What films has he made and what are they about?

I’d like to suggest that you PREVIEW/SELECT an excerpt from either of Atassi’s documentaries to show in class. However, a quick check online suggested that these are not (yet) readily available–though I suspect that a DVD of "Waiting for Abu Zayed" may soon appear (so keep checking).

DISCUSS: In "Waiting for Abu Zayd" Nasr Hamed Abu Zayd makes these provocative, insightful observations: "The intellectual who claims ownership of the Truth is the other leg of the dictator. When an intellectual claims to own the Truth he becomes the dictator’s servant."  The quote is from Jim Quilty’s film review (see Resources). What a piquant quote to turn students’ attention to the predicament of intellectuals in societieties where the cost of "speaking out" is so high! ASK: What does Abu Zayd mean by "ownership of the Truth"? Can you think of instances today or in the past where people assert (have asserted) that "own" the only true ideas? What kinds of service to a dictator is Abu Zayd talking about? ASK for historical examples (what popped into my mind was the book Theologians under Hitler by Robert P. Ericksen). Where is this happening today? (Perhaps in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s spokesperson Boutheina Shabaan’s intentions may be good but the results may prove tragic.). And aren’t there also insidious relationships between intellectuals and politicians in "democratic" countries, too?

SEARCH online for more information about Syrian writer Ulfat Idilbi. Note that "Ulfat" (the spelling you will find online) is the transliteration used when her novels were translated and published in English. Students should find, rather easily, the obituary published in The Guardian. Ask them to read it to discover why, when she married at age 17, she decided to use her husband’s name. (Note that the Al Jadid article does not appear in a Google search unless you switch to the alternate spelling.)

FIND/EXAMINE closely online examples of the art work of Walid Agha. DISCUSS: What makes Agha’s art both traditional and modern at the same time? Refer to clues in the interview but try to connect these to visual elements in the examples.

RESOURCES

Al Jadid: A Review & Record of Arab Culture and Art: http://www.aljadid.com/

Gheytanchi, Elham. "More Than That." Interview with Elie Chalala. The Iranian (December 23, 2002): http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2002/December/Chalala/index.html

　
Mohammad Ali Atassi

Atassi,Mohammad Ali.  "My Syria, Awake Again After 40 Years."  New York Times (June 27, 2011):
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/opinion/27Atassi.html?scp=1&sq=mohammad%20atassi&st=cse

"Syria Steps Up Crackdown on Protesters." NPR (April 25, 2011): http://www.npr

• Michele Norris, speaking with Deborah Amos and Mohammed Ali Atassi about a letter signed by more than 100 Syrian journalists and intellectuals (both inside/outside the country) in which they condemn the violence in Syria

Atassi, Mohammad Ali. "What the People Want ..." Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America: Perspectives: http://www.boell-meo.org/downloads/Perspectives_02-04_Mohammed_Ali_Atassi.pdf

• Atassi discusses the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, putting these into a larger context and taking issue with certain conventional views about Arab politics, the potential for revolution, and the Islamist factor. Translated from Arabic.
• "We are a political non-profit organization striving to promote democracy, civil society, equality and a healthy environment internationally. Headquarterd in Berlin/Germany, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung has 28 offices worldwide and cooperates with more than 200 partners in more than 60 countries."

Wright, Robin. Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East. Penguin, 2008.   Partially available at Google Books: search Atassi.

• Wright reveals that he is the son of Nurreddin al-Atassi, the president of Syria who was ousted by Hafez Assad in 1970 (p. 214)

"Atassi." Abitabout: http://www.abitabout.com/Atassi

• Family history based (apparently) on information from the Atassi family site; this family claims descent from Prophet Muhammad; their roots in Homs, where they were the recognized muftis, go back to the 16^th century.

FILM: "Ibn al-Aam." A documentary by Mohammad Al Atassi, 2001.

• About Riad al-Turk, a Syrian communist turned social democrat, whose life of political dissent and years of imprisonment shed much light on decades of Syrian politics. (An online search will bring up his commentary on recent events in the Middle East.)

FILM: "Waiting for Abu Zayd." A documentary by Mohammad Al Atassi. 2010. Arabic with English subtitles. 82 minutes.

• Atassi’s "portrait of a liberal Islamic scholar who dared to challenge conservative Islamic trends from within Islam." After Abu Zayd was "condemned for apostasy in Egypt on the grounds of his rational writings on the Qur’an, in which he places the religious text in a historical and cultural context," he and his wife left for the Netherlands, where he taught at Leiden University. Using footage shot over six years, Atassi strove to capture both Abu Zayd’s ideas and his interaction with the media. Abu Zayd died suddenly in 2010, shortly after the film was completed.
• For a brief biographical note on Atassi and a photo: http://www.dox-box.org/2011/index.php?ang=2&&page=show&dir=items&ex=2&year=2011&cid=7&fid=57 (also the source of the info/quotes in previous bullet).

FILM REVIEW: Jim Quilty, "Putting Flesh and Blood into a liberal Vision of Islam." The Daily Star: Lebanon (September 18, 2010): http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Film/Sep/18/Putting-flesh-and-blood-into-a-liberal-vision-of-Islam.ashx#axzz1QKpn4y62


Articles Critiqued by Michael Teague

Fahim, Kareem. "Syria’s Solidarity With Islamists Ends at Home." New York Times (September 3, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/world/middleeast/04syria.html?scp=3&sq=kareem%20fahim%20syria%202010&st=cse

Fahim, Kareem, and Nawara Mafoud. "Damascus Journal: Evenings of Poetry Provide a Space for New Voices." New York Times (September 19, 2010): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/world/middleeast/20poetry.html?scp=2&sq=kareem%20fahim%20syria%202010&st=cse

Fahim, Kareem. "Doors Start to Open to Activists in Syria." New York Times (August 28, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/world/middleeast/29syria.html?scp=1&sq=kareem%20fahim%20syria%202010&st=cse

Worth, Robert F. "The Saturday Profile: Syrian Actress Tests Boundaries Again." New York Times (October 1, 2010): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/world/middleeast/02actress.html?scp=1&sq=robert%20worth%20syrian%20actress&st=cse

　
Ulfat Idilbi

Clark, Peter. "Ulfat Idilbi: Renowned Syrian Fiction Writer, Lecturer and Feminist." The Guardian (April 19, 2007): http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/apr/19/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries/print

Moubayed, Sami. "Farewell Sabriya." Mideast Views: http://mideastviews.com/print.php?art=196

McPhee, Jenny. Review of Sabriya: Damascus Bitter Sweet. New York Times (September 7, 1997): http://nytimes.com/books/97/09/07/bib/970907.rv104334.html

Mohja, Kahf. "The Silence of Contemporary Syrian Literature." World Literature Today (2001). URL: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/Print/Article.aspx?id=80500168

• For discussion of Idilbi’s work go to the section "The Poetics of Syrian Silence" (about half-way through the article).
• An article for teachers and advanced students.

Walid Agha

Albareh Art Gallery: Walid Agha. http://www.albareh.com/Albareh/Walid%20Agha.html

• For a detailed list of Agha’s numerous exhibitions and six examples of his work.

Syrian Art Directory. http://www.syriaart.com/new/index.php?page=viewArtist&id=51

• Photo of the artist (list of exhibitions, same as above) and four examples of his work.

Syria's Ancient and Modern Mosaic (Part I)

(This topic is so complex that it has kept me busy for several weeks. Issues of identity and its construction interest me a great deal, which is why I’ve decided to pursue what is morphing into a major piece of research. In the meantime, here is the first installment of an overview that, I hope, will help you sort out Syria’s fascinating – byzantine with a small "b"– mosaic. Information presented below is subject to revision and, as I learn more, I will correct any mistakes or misconceptions in an update.)

INTRODUCTION

During the past couple of weeks President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has launched a crackdown on anti-government protesters with such vehemence that he has any remnant of legitimacy in the arena of world opinion. Assad seems determined to do whatever it takes to reassert control over every corner of the country, but the future of his regime--and thus the future of Syria--is still very much in play.

Assad has argued that only his regime can guarantee the safety of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. We might say that he’s playing the "minority card" now as a way to prop up his regime, for in the past he more or less prohibited any discussion of "sectarianism." In the mainstream Western media, especially in the earlier phases of the uprising, many commentators seemed to accept Assad’s argument and it did have some credibility–much more before the onslaught of his troops and tanks. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned. We know what happened in Iraq. We’ve heard about the recent of attacks on Copts in Egypt. And I’ve shuddered when trying to imagine what might happen to Syria’s Alawites, if Assad falls and they are caught up in a backlash. (1)

If the regime collapses, will Syria’s mosaic of ethnic and religious minorities disintegrate? At this point any analysis must remain open-ended and realistic. I recommend that we don’t jump to too conclusions about the "fragility of Syria’s social fabric" (2).

The situation in Syria has been escalating steadily since mid-March. After three months of protests, to which the Assad regime has responded with arrests, beatings, live ammunition, tanks and artillery, the death toll is now more than 1300 (more than 1400 according to some sources). As many as 10,000 have been arrested, including street protesters, opposition politicians, human rights activists, community leaders, and children. In Homs (and probably elsewhere), when space ran out due to the large number of detainees, the government had to convert schools into "holding pens." With so many men in detention, women began turning out to keep the movement going. In several towns they have organized "women-only" demonstrations and in Banias two were died at such an event–shot by the security forces. Hundreds have died during the last ten days in the brutal crackdown in the northwest. (3)

After the security forces manage to subdue a targeted town or region, they typically move on, leaving a smaller force behind. Thus the focus of the crackdown keeps on shifting from one locale to another. So after using force to re-take Jisr al-Shugur in the northwest, the regime sent troops and tanks towards a strategic town on the road between Aleppo and Damascus–as well Deir al-Zour on the Euphrates River and other towns in the east close to the border with Iraq. Protesters, however, have remained defiant despite their losses (killed, wounded, arrested), and soon return to the streets though often on a smaller scale or at several locations (instead of one large gathering)–so that the names of towns such as Homs and Dara’a keep popping in and out of the news. (See Resources: Breaking News).

Now there are reports of more defections from the army (in addition to those alleged in Jisr al-Shugur). Rumor has it that only large-scale defections of officers as well as foot-soldiers can save the day for the opposition. In any case, commentators have questioned the reliabliity of these reports, which anti-Assad activists may be exaggerating as a way to further erode the government’s position? (4)

So far the feeble international response has not had much of an affect. The Turkish administration of Prime Minister Erdogan, perhaps best-positioned to influence President Assad, is running out of patience. Prime Minister Erdogan, who now speaks of Syrian "savagery," has allowed nearly 10,000 Syrian refugees to enter Turkey and pledged to keep the border open. At the UN the Security Council’s failure to act is attributed to the veto power invested in Russia and China. Four weeks ago President Obama challenged Assad to "lead the transition" or "get out of the way." Yet Assad is doing neither--and Obama isn’t doing anything to stop the violence (as he had suggested in the speech that he would) (5). The latest development, highly significant, is the Arab League’s condemnation of the violence in Syria–which elicited an angry response from the Syrian government (6).

According to a report coming out of Syria, President Assad will address the nation on Sunday (or perhaps Monday). This comes on the heels of a massive pro-Assad demonstration in Damascus on June 15th (7). Will President Assad, once acclaimed inside and outside of Syria as a reformer, actually announce any substantive reforms? In the early weeks of the uprising he seemed to be vacillating between token reforms and repressive violence. Was he vacillating out of an inability to see clearly what was happening? How could he not realize that the senseless killing of unarmed civilians–even women and children--would only provoke a stronger response, capable of seriously endangered his regime?

Assad has considerable support, especially from those with much to lose if he is ousted. Prominent among his supporters are members of Syria’s minority communities. The Alawites, to whom the Assad family belongs, are but one piece of the Syrian mosaic but they feel threatened–not without reason--by their minority status and by their collusion with a repressive regime. What is less discussed in the media is Assad’s support among the Sunni middle and upper class residents of Damascus and Aleppo (the second largest city). Is Assad’s imminent speech a last ditch effort to consolidate this support? His critics aren’t expecting it to make much of a difference in how he runs the country. 

The situation is serious and rapidly evolving. For outside observers (analysts, pundits, journalists) what is particularly frustrating is their inability to verify reports coming out of Syria–as the regime is not permitting foreign reporters to operate within the county. To put recent events into perspective I recommend listing to The Economist’s interview with Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East studies at the University of Oklahoma (see Resources). Although sometimes criticized for being too sympathetic to Syrian government point of view (he is married to a Syrian), Landis is very knowledgeable about Syria and its people. his assessment here is cautious that and balanced. What he presents here is a cautious and balanced assessment is a nuanced and measured view of the sectarian dimension of politics in Syria. As he explained on his blog (June 15): "This is not my title. I wouldn't have chosen it. The struggle in Syria has not yet become and [sic] overt sectarian struggle as happened in Lebanon or Iraq."
  　
Identities Past and Present

What makes the protests in Syria so different from other manifestations of the Arab Spring is the country’s complicated demographic mosaic. This mosaic is the residue of many centuries of accumulating ethnic and religious identities–further complicated by cross-cutting political and ideological points of view. These are all further shaped by social and economic differences, such as urban versus rural lifestyles, income disparities--and perhaps very significantly in a country where more than 36% of the population is age 10-24–by a generation gap between the aspirations and worldviews of young people and those of their parents and grandparents (8).

Circumstances change, politics evolve, an ethnic identity in the foreground at one point in time recedes into the background at another, then re-emerges at still another. All of this is fodder for historians to chew on. We cannot begin to understand events in Syria–or speculate about possible outcomes–without acknowledging the complexity of the country’s co-existing identities. And, like people everywhere, Syrians have multiple, sometimes shifting and nearly always context-dependent, identities.

Ideally, I’d like to explore the many dimensions of Syria’s conserved, constrained, and contested identities. How and why have the processes of constructing identity changed over time? And what has been retained even as change was occurring? This series of posts is a mere beginning.

From the perspective of world history Syrian history is a treasure house of processes and patterns, an exemplar for almost any topic of general importance. "The cultural heritage of the Syrians rflects the evolved cultures of the East and the West over the long sweep of history" (9). As a crossroads of cultures and caravans, Syria is heavy with layers of historical baggage going back to ancient times. "Greater Syria" (as a geographical concept) stretches to the Mediterranean to encompass both modern Syria and Lebanon and parts of Turkey (10). Its history includes Phoenician city-states, Pax Roman emporia, the Umayyad Caliphate, Crusader enclaves, and incorporation into the Mamluk and Ottoman Empires (and of course much more). In textbook maps of the ancient world central and eastern Syria correspond to northern Mesopotamia. Indeed, the Euphrates and Tigris rivers that roughly define "the Land between the Rivers" have their sources in the region just north of Syria and Syria’s mountainous regions are part of the "uplands and hilly flanks" of the Fertile Crescent.

There were Jews in Syria before the Common Era and thriving Jewish and Christian communities there in the early centuries of the Common Era’s first millennium. Islam arrived very early and by the 660s CE Damascus was the capital of the Caliphate. For centuries Greater Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire but Arab Revolt (1916) helped to bring about the Ottoman collapse, the peoples of this region had to contend with French and British rivalry over the spoils and both Lebanon and Syria fell under the French mandate. The French pursued a divide and rule policy, empowering minorities such as the Alawites and Druze, in ways that fostered divisiveness (11).

Throughout many upheavals, conquests, invasions, sectarian tensions, and persecutions the ancestors of modern Syrians have sustained themselves and passed on their traditions. Some communities have fared better than others: some have declined in numerically or proportionally while others have flourished. In daily life ancient languages gave way over time to Arabic (with a few exceptions). Minority communities survived by resorting to strategies that ran the gamut from serving the powerful, to retreating to rural villages, to practicing taqiyya (dissimulation, i.e. hiding one’s true identity or beliefs). The more I learn about the history of the Syrian mosaic the easier it becomes to imagine a vast repertoire of strategies. How have these have played out during the forty-odd years of the Assad regime, including the current uprising? How might they contribute (or not) to the new politics of a post-Assad era--if President Assad is overthrown?

Is the Syrian mosaic crumbling? Is the connective grout between its pieces eroding? That’s one way to look at the situation. Increasingly, as protests continue, Syria looks more and more like a country divided into two parts: one part pro-Assad (the Assad family, its core supporters, and most Alawites), the other anti-Assad (mostly Sunni Muslims). Yet, as Joshua Landis explains, this oversimplifies the situation (12). While many minority communities seem to fall into the pro-government camp, since their leaders have favored stability, in the run-up to the current crisis the call for reform has perhaps been more broadly disseminated than a survey of those out on the streets would suggest. In other words, the silent minorities and even the pro-Assad demonstrators of June 15th, may harbor dissident elements that, despite their preferring reform over rupture, could turn against Assad (13).

All of these questions are part of a broader theme we might call "the politics of managing the mosaic." So, how has the Assad regime managed Syria’s diversity? Quite well, actually. And herein lies a profound tragedy. Malise Ruthven concludes her review of Brooke Allen’s The Other Side of the Mirror: An American Travels Through Syria, with the poignant observation:

Visiting several mosques, churches, and shrines, she provides impressive testimony of the country’s religious diversity and the regime’s commitment to religious freedom. It would be tragic if the pursuit of democracy led to the shredding of this bright human canopy, where religious and cultural differences seem to have flourished under the iron grip of a minority sectarian regime. (14)

At the time of independence from France in 1946, the ideals of the Baath Party were those of nationalism, pan-Arabism, and secularism. Over the years the balance of these has varied, but when the Baathists came to power in 1963, they were quite willing to co-opt any group willing to abide by its non-sectarian policies. When Hafez Assad took over in 1970, his primary goal was to create stablity in a country plagued by coups for more than two decades. Of course, he brought many of his fellow Alawites into the government, but he also reached out to Christians and Druze and, by adhering more closely to Sunni Muslim beliefs and practices, he won supporters among the Sunni majority. His strategy worked--with one exception, the Sunnis who were members of the Muslim Brotherhood. And the results were tragic–as attested by the killings in Jisr al-Shugur in 1980 and the massacre in Hama in 1982.
Since becoming president in 2000 Bashar Assad has had consider success in gaining the loyalty of the Christian and Druze minorities, yet he has been more wary of the more conservative, Brotherhood-leaning Sunnis. His decision in 2005 to enact economic reforms was undoubtedly motivated in part by a need to curry favor among the urban commercial classes, regardless of their sectarian identities. Those who benefitted the most, however, were family members, highly-placed bureaucrats, and the Baathist elite, most notably his cousin Rami Makhlouf. This week Makhlouf, the richest businessman in Syria, announced that he would henceforth devote himself to charity (though it is not at all clear that he is really forsaking his commercial ties). I see this as yet another indicator of the regime’s grasp of the economic currents running through the uprising (15).

I intend to take up "managing the mosaic" in detail in a later post. First, however, I think it is necessary to provide information about the consitutent pieces of the mosaic. While this picture is by no means complete (due to time constraints and the nature of the readily available sources), I will present it in Parts II and III. In the meantime, here is a chart of the religious and ethnic identities to be included in those posts:

RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES MUSLIMS SUNNI MUSLIMS SALAFISTS/ISLAMISTS MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SUFIS SHIA MUSLIMS [TWELVERS] ISMAILI MUSLIMS ALAWITES 　 DRUZE 　 CHRISTIANS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS SYRIAC CHRISTIANS CATHOLIC (UNIATE) CHRISTIANS PROTESTANT/EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS 　 JEWS (a small number in Damascus and Aleppo) 　 YAZIDIS

ETHNIC IDENTITIES SYRIAN ARABS  BEDOUIN ALAWITES DRUZE some CHRISTIANS KURDS 　 ASSYRIANS (Syriacs/Chaldeans) 　 ARMENIANS 　 CIRCASSIANS 　 TURKMEN 　 GREEKS 　 DOM 　 PALESTINIAN ARABS (refugees) 　 IRAQI ARABS (refugees) 　 IRAQI ASSYRIANS (refugees)

ACTIVITIES

Though school is out in the US, I’m presenting these in a "pedagogical present" format. 

READ: Use "After All This Bloodshed" to introduce what’s been happening in Syria. Call attention to the grassroots statement about "national unity." Why, then, is there also a looming "spectre of sectarian violence"?

SHOW the short video "Thomas L. Friedman on Hama, Syria, 1982" to set the stage for discussion of the situation in Syria.

RESEARCH/CREATE: To illustrate the Syrian mosaic use Alissa Everett’s account of her visit to Damascus (or simply explain that Damascus has a cultural heritage that is Jewish, Christian, and Muslim). Then send students to find images online and create their own SLIDESHOW or PowerPoint about cultural diversity in Damascus or Aleppo.

READ/DISCUSS: Assign "Promise of Arab Uprisings" in a global studies, history, civics/government, journalism, or language arts class. In this short piece NYT reporters Shadid and Kirkpatrick pull together their observations around the theme of diversity and the urgent need for "a new sense of national identity built on the idea of citizenship."

SEARCH/RESEARCH: Ask students to go to the NYT site and find other articles by Anthony Shadid and David Kirkpatrick. Where have they reported from the "frontlines of history"? ASK: How do you think their reporting has influenced how they think about identity and citizenship?

READ/DISCUSS/RESEARCH: An exploding Syria would affect the entire region. First read Thomas Friedman’s "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" and ASK students to list what he thinks the repercussions will be. In an advanced class, as the next step, hand out the relevant portions of the Reva Bhala’s "Making Sense of the Syrian Crisis." EXPAND the topic with an online search for more information about the possible impact on Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Turkey, and Iraq (a suitable homework assignment). Then discuss in class the likelihood of these possible outcomes. Encourage students to think about the POV of their sources (since an Israeli speculating on, for example, the impact on Lebanon would no doubt be quite different from what a Lebanese might predict).

GENERAL RESOURCES

"Timeline: Syria." BBC News (May 21, 2011): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/827580.stm

"Syria Demographics Profile 2011." Index Mundi: http://www.indexmundi.com/syria/demographics_profile.html (based on CIA World Factbook, as of December 30, 2011).
　

Syrian Studies Association: Links: http://www.ou.edu/ssa/links.htm

• Check out scholarly articles, esp. Paul Heck, "Religion and the Authoritarian State: The Case of Syria" (2005): http://www.ou.edu/mideast/Additional%20pages%20-%20non-catagory/Heck_Religion.and.the.Authoritarian.State.pdf

Centre for Syrian Studies: Links: (School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews): http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/intrel/css/links/

SyriaComment.com: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Joshua.M.Landis-1/syriablog/2004/08/iraqi-christians-fleeing-to-syria.htm

Creative Syria:http://www.creativesyria.com/

• Link from SyriaComment.com
• Two photo collections, including a set of historical photos going back as far as 1850

Forward Magazine: http://www.forwardsyria.com/

• "Born from the firm conviction that the only way is forward in Syrian and other options do not exist, Forward Magazine is the only balanced, local, and reliable source of infomration on Syria in the English language. ... It does not distort factors nor does it falsify realities. Simply, it looks at the bright side of things, while pointing to the shortcomings, with the objective of change and reform, rather than cynicism."
• First issue, 5 January 2007. Online and print edition.

Maps

"Syria." URL: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia02/syria_sm02.gif

• Major towns with place-names formally transcribed (but some important protest localities are not shown)

"Protests Emerge from Many Corners of Syria’s Diverse Population." URL: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/05/01/world/middleeast/01syria-map.html?ref=middleeast

• Best map (though it doesn’t show towns where most recent protests and crackdowns have occurred).

"Protests Across Syria." URL: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/23/world/middleeast/syria-graphic.html?ref=syria

• Earlier NYT map with timeline (covers protests from March 21 to April 22, 2011)

"A Sectarian Look at Syrian Unrest." URL: http://web.stratfor.com/images/middleeast/map/4-4-11-Syria_Unrest.jpg

• Excellent color coded map of major pieces of the mosaic (but shows only the protest localities up to about May 4^th)

"Syria: Governorates." URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Syria-blank-governorates.png

• A governorate may also be called a province. Use this map to locate governorates/provinces mentioned in news sources.

Analysis and Commentary

Shadid, Anthony and David D. Kirkpatrick. "Promise of Arab Uprisings Is Threatened by Divisions." New York Times (May 21, 2011):

Friedman, Thomas. "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" New York Times (May 21, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/opinion/22friedman.html?ref=thomaslfriedman

Bhalla, Reva. "Making Sense of the Syrian Crisis." Stratfor (May 5, 2011): http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20110504-making-sense-syrian-crisis

• Important background on Assad regime's Alawite "pillar" (with emphasis on Alawites in the military).
• Provides a geopolitical analysis of the regional context.

Ozcan, Nihat Ali. "When Will Things (Hopefully) Get Better in Syria?" Hurriyet Daily News (June 15, 2011): http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?=when-will-things-hopefully–get-better-in syria

Yassin-Kassab, Robin. "After All This Bloodshed, There Is No Going Back for Syria." The Guardian (June 16, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/16/bloodshed-syria-regime-change


RESOURCES: BREAKING NEWS

Stack, Liam. "Syrian Troops Retake Control of Rebellious Town in North Town." New York Times (June 12, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/world/middleeast/13syria.html?ref=syria

Landis, Joshua. "What happened at Jisr al-Shagur?" Syria Comment (June 13, 2011): http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=10202

• Commentary by Landis plus extracts/links to numerous news articles and commentary dating from June 9-13.

Shadid, Anthony. "Syrian Unrest Stirs Fear of Deeper Sectarian Divide." New York Times (June 13, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/world/middleeast/14syria.html?ref=syria

Daragahi, Borzou. "Syrians Vent Rage in Tent Camps on Border with Turkey." Los Angeles Times (June 14, 2011): http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/14/world/la-fg-syria-crackdown-20110615

Starr, Stephen. "With Flag Rally, Syria Papers over Rifts." Washington Post (June 15, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/with-flag-rally-syria-papers-over-rifts/2011/06/15/AGkZnMWH_story.html

Shadid, Anthony. "Reviled Tycoon, Assad’s Cousin, Resigns in Syria." New York Times (June 16, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/world/middleeast/17syria.html?scp=12&sq=syria&st=nyt

Stack, Liam. "For Syrian Refugees, Shelter of a Precarious Sort." New York Times (June 16, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/world/middleeast/17border.html?ref=syria

Shadid, Anthony. "Violent Clashes as Thousands Protest in Cities Across Syria." New York Times (June 17, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/world/middleeast/18syria.html?scp=5&sq=syria&st=nyt

Sly, Liz. "Pressure on Syria’s Assad Intensifies as Protests Persist." Washington Post (June 17, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/syrian-business-tycoon-resigns-in-concession-to-protesters/2011/06/17/AGCWydYH_story.html

Stack, Liam. "Syrian Town Is Strained By Flood of Refugees." New York Times (June 17, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/world/middleeast/18border.html?ref=middleeast


RESOURCES: RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY

"Syria: International Religious Freedom Report 2006." U.S. Department of State (2006): http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71432.htm

VIDEO: "Thomas L. Friedman on Hama, Syria, 1982." New York Times (May 6, 2011): http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/05/06/opinion/100000000808191/opinion--thomas-l-friedman-on-syria.html?scp=6&sq=friedman&st=cse

• Good, short (only 1:53 mins.) introduction to the uprising in Syria; Friedman was in Hama at the time of the massacre and also wrote about what he saw in from Beirut to Jerusalem (19–)

AUDIO: "Joshua Landis on the Syrian Regime: Deeply Sectarian." The Economist (June 14, 2011): http://www.economist.com/node/21521962

Everett, Alissa. "Damascus, Syria Before the Strife." Marin Magazine (May 2011): http://www.marinmagazine.com/Marin-Magazine/May-2011/Ancient-Splendor/

• Very accessible article, introducing the ancient city’s Muslim, Christian, and Jewish sites

Elhadj, Elie, Ph.D.   Post. Creative Forum (April 17, 2009): http://www.creativesyria.com/syriabloggers/?p=73

• Ms. Elhadj makes provocative references to Martin Luther, asking whether a Muslim reformer of Luther’s stature might emerge in Syria (given its history of religious tolerance and modernation). Read the 74 comments as you have enough time!
• Opportunity to bring the possibility of a Muslim reformation into a a discussion of the Reformation in Europe.

Ismail, Salwa. "Syria and the Sectarian ‘Plot.’" The Guardian (April 28, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/28/syria-media-sectarian-plot

Chaulia, Sreeram. "Minority Cloud Looms Over Arab Summer." Asia Times (June 14, 2011): http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MF14Ak01.html

NOTES

1) See Resources: Breaking News. For an overview of the minority/mosaic theme applied to current events in Syria see Sreeram Chaulia, "Minority Cloud Looms Over Arab Summer" and Salwa Ismail, "Syria and the Sectarian ‘Plot’" (both in Resources: Religious and Ethnic Diversity).

2) An opinion partly based on Salwa Ismail’s discussion of the regime’s manipulation of national unity theme in its rhetoric (see Resources).

3) See Resources: Breaking News; Peter Beaumont, "Syria’s Defiant Women Risk All to Protest Against President Bashar al-Assad." The Guardian (May 21, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/21/syria-women-unrest-repression?intcmp=239. Many women and children have fled from the towns and villages of the northwest, recently under attack by government forces. In addition to the refugees in Turkey and Lebanon there are increasing numbers of internally displaced people (see esp. Liam Stack, "For Syrian Refugees" and "Syrian Town Is Strained" and Borzou Daragahi, "Syrians Vent Rage").

4) For skepticism about the scale of army defections see Joshua Landis, "What Happened at Jisr al-Shagour?" But seemingly credible accounts have been trickling out more recently; see "Witness Describes Scene in Jisr al-Shugur," Al Jazeera English (June 11, 2011): http://english.aljazera.net/news/middleeasst/2011/06/2011611121655786792.html; Ipek Yezdani, "Soldier Describes Syrian Unrest After Defecting," Hurriyet Daily News (June 15, 2011): http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=soldier-describes-syrian-unrest-after-defecting

5) Although the French government has explicitly pointed out Assad’s loss of legitimacy, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has  made similar statements. For Turkey articles covering Syrian refugees and also Delphine Strauss, "Turkey Grows Impatient with Ally," Financial Times (June 15, 2011).  For criticism of Obama's lack of action see "Silence on Syria," editorial in the Washington Post (June 15, 2011).

6) "Arab league Condemns Syria for First Time," UPI (June 15, 2011): http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/06/15/Arab-league-condemns-syria-for-first-time

7) Widely reported, but for a good photo see Stephen Starr, "With Flag Rally, Syria Papers over Rifts" (Resources: Breaking News).

8) "Syria: Youth and Adolescents," United Nations Population Fund: http://www.unfa.org.sy/en/content.aspx?s=4 (data perhaps dating to 2004?). Over 35% are in the 0-14 years cohort (see "Syria Demographics Profile 2011" in General Resources).

9) Elie Elhdaj (Resources: Relgious and Ethnic Diversity).

10) This is a restricted definition of "Greater Syria."   During the Ottoman period "Syria" included included a much larger area.

11) There is considerable literature on Fr colonialism and its creation of "states within the state" in the territory of its mandate.

12) Steve Inskeep, interview with Joshua Landis. "Protesters Want Changes to Syria’s Power Structure." NPR (April 27): http://www.npr.org/2011/04/27/135760793/protests-disrupt-syrias-power-structure?ps=cprs

13) For example, reports of Christians in protests.  Opposition figures in exile who run the gamut from members of the Muslim Brotherhood to secularists, Christians, Kurds, and even a close relative of President Assad.

14) Malise Ruthven, "Storm Over Syria," The New York Review of Books (June 9, 2011).  Not available online to non-subscribers. 

15) Anthony Shadid, "Reviled Tycoon, Assad’s Cousin, Resigns in Syria" (Resources: Breaking News).  For extensive discussion /coverage of this resignation and of the Syrian economy and the "bite" of sanctions see Joshua Landis, "Rami Makhlouf," Syria Comment (June 16, 2011): http://www.joshualandis.com/blog?p=10287

Syria’s “Children of Freedom”

(I’d already begun putting together this post when, on Monday morning I read about the death of a 13-year old boy in a state-run facility in our country, the victim of equally depraved abusers. We need to face up to the reality that such abuse happens here, too--not just in other countries. To do otherwise is unpatriotic. If we are to be advocates for all of the world’s children, what can we learn from the disturbing reports from Syria?)

HAMZA AL-KHATEEB AND THE "CHILDREN OF FREEDOM" PROTESTS

A week ago (June 3) people in Syria came out to protest after Friday prayers, as they have done since mid-March--more determined than ever to free themselves from a cruel and repressive regime. The June 3rd protests, among the largest yet, were called to honor the children who have died in the uprising–and so the day would have a special name, "Children of Freedom Friday." Its banners and slogans would hoist into the nation’s consciousness–and the world’s–the photo of a young martyr, Hamza al-Khateeb. Hamza’s status as a catalyzing symbol was almost immediately compared to that of the young men who who played that role in the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings. But they were young adults. Hamza was only 13-years old. (1).

Child's drawing of Hamza al-Khateeb, posted to the "We Are All Hama Alkhateeb" Facebook page (as reproduced on the Al Jazeera English web site).

Despite the regime’s efforts to disrupt communication by shutting down the Internet and cellphone relays, the theme of the June 3^rd protests echoed across the entire country. Even before the Internet was back up, footage had been smuggled out by couriers and posted on YouTube. By Saturday and Sunday a great deal of footage was appearing there and on the Facebook page of the Local Coordinating Committees of Syria (see The Lede, June 3rd and 4th, in Resources, for links to examples). A post on the LCCS Facebook page reported that on Saturday June 4th, thousands participated in the funerals of two children from the village of Salehiya, who had been killed on June 3rd "by the hands of Security forces in the Children of Freedom Friday" (2).

In Syria, pro-reform/pro-democracy demonstrations have been going on more or less continuously for nearly three months. Inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, Syrian activists had asked their reform-minded supporters to demonstrate on February 5^th. In response, the Muslim Brotherhood (who wanting to upstage the moderate and secular activists) called for demonstrations a day earlier--on February 4^th. But there wasn’t much interest in either of these attempts to incite a movement for change in Syria (3). What finally got people’s attention, more than a month later, was the brutal treatment of teenagers in the southern town of Dara’a, who were arrested for producing anti-government graffiti. Local people took to the streets demanding reforms and an end to the detested State of Emergency Law and soon protests spread throughout the country. Thus, it is fair to say that the Syria uprising was sparked by teenagers–and by President Bashar al-Assad’s (or his local enforcers) "over-the-top" response to the acts of young dissidents (4).

Perhaps the Assad regime could have avoided the transformation of peaceful rallies for reform into fully-fledged anti-Assad protests. From what I’ve read I’ve gotten the impression that in the early weeks of the uprising most demonstrators would have been satisfied with slow-but-steady steps towards genuine reform. Indeed, many people continued to believe that President Assad was at heart a reformer–though constrained by the hardliners (such as his brother Maher al-Assad) surrounding him. Assad kept "talking the talk" but even his lifting of the State of Emergency--a key demand of the demonstrators--turned out to be meaningless. At the same time the government’s crackdown was becoming more violent–until the security forces were mostly relying on a troops and tanks strategy. Using force to douse the pro-democracy movement wasn’t working–in the streets it was getting hotter. (5)

By late April there was a growing sense that Syria’s historic turning point was coming–and young people, including young teenagers, wanted to take part. So on April 29th Hamza al-Khateeb and his friends joined his parents and other adults from their village, who were going to Dara’a to participate in demonstrations and perhaps try to break the siege of Dara’a. They were intercepted by security forces and Hamza and his friend Thamer were detained. An encounter between security forces and protesters bringing food and water to the city turned violent when a large crowd of protesters began moving towards the city’s Western entrance. According to an eye witness 62 people were killed and more than a hundred injured. It is quite possible that Hamza was wounded during this incident. (6)

A month later, despite continuing protests, there were reports that the momentum was slowing. Just when the Syrian uprising needed a jolt to keep its resilient but weary protesters going for another round, two critical news items surfaced: a video so graphic that it turned a 13-year-old boy into an iconic symbol of the regime’s brutality; and a UNICEF report highlighting the deaths of children during weeks of protest.

The boy was Hamza al-Khatib, who had been detained on April 29th for taking part in an anti-government demonstration. About a month later the government released his body to his parents for burial. Although he had been shot, it was also apparent that he had been tortured and his body mutilated. The condition of the corpse was so shocking that the family allowed activists to make a videotape to record what had happened to him. Posted to YouTube, the tape elicited widespread outrage (7). A Facebook page dedicated to Hamza put out the call for massive protests on "Children of Freedom Friday." That’s how Hamza became the poster boy for the Syria revolt.

Hamza’s suffering was extreme but he is only one of dozens of child victims of the regime. Others have died, some shot by snipers, as security forces sought to disrupt street protests. ... On May 31st UNICEF had issued a expressing its concern and calling upon the Syrian government to investigate reports that children were being injured, detained, displaced and killed. This statement referred specifically to "video images of children who were arbitrarily detained and suffered torture or ill-treatment during detention, leading in some cases to death." It also expressed alarm over the reports it had received about at least 30 children who had been killed when live ammunition was fired at demonstrators. Finally, UNICEF reminded Syria that of its obligations under the Convention of the Rights of the Child, to which it was a party. According to a post on the LCCS Facebook page, as many as 72 children have died in protest-related violence or in government detention. This does not contradict the UNICEF report, which counted only those shot during protests and, in any case, is a minimal figure. (8)

On Wednesday (June 8) the body of Thamer al-Sahri, a 15-year-old who had been arrested with his friend Hamza, was returned to his parents. Again, the visual signs of his alleged torture (a missing eye, knocked out teeth, broken neck and leg, bullet holes) were documented on videotape, according to an Al Jazeera source inside the country (9). Like Hamza, his only offence was taking part in an anti-Assad demonstration. Another mutilated teenager, more fuel on the fire?

Today (June 10), protests have followed quickly on the heels of Friday prayers in towns and cities across Syria and early reports suggested that protests in Damascus were on a larger scale than previously (see "Breaking News articles in Resources). In the southern community of Busara al-Hariri today’s protests were centered on the fate of four children, who have been missing for a week (10).

The situation in Syria continues to escalate. It seems that the revolt has entered a new phase--with the defection of men from the security forces sent to crackdown on protesters in Jisr al-Shughur (a town close to the Turkish border). According to the government, "armed gangs" had ambushed and killed 120 members of the security forces, but activists say that the causalities were men who had refused to fire on civilians. The government, bent on retaliation, sent more troops and tanks to the area, where Maher al-Assad (the president’s brother) is said to be in command. This has sent whole families from the town fleeing across the border into Turkey. By evening Jisr al-Shughur was surrounded by troops and those civilians who remained in the town were taking up arms to defend it, but whether any defectors remain to help them is unclear. Other towns in the area have been shelled. (11)

Despite Turkey’s recent policy of reaching out the the Assad regime, its leaders have little real leverage. Prime Minister Erodogan has promised to keep the border open to Syrian refugees, now numbering more than 2400. So many women and children have left Jisr al-Shughur that it seems empty, but throughout the northwest there must be many children still in their homes, terrified as the Syrian military sweeps through their villages. (12)

What will be the outcome in Syria? Will the Assad regime survive or will it succomb? Will more civilians die or end up in refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon? How many more children will be injured or die before the situation is resolved (if, it is resolved)? How many children will suffer the trauma of losing parents, siblings, friends? What will be the long-lasting effects on Syria’s children of living in a conflict zone?

Parents and ChildrenIf you are a parent, you may ask (and it is legitimate to do so), why Syrian parents have been taking their young children to anti-government demonstrations that may turn ugly and violent. I don’t know what they are thinking, and so I may only speculate. But here are a few possibilities to consider.

The demonstrators have maintained that acting peacefully and, for the most part their response to the government crackdown has been incredibly restrained. Bringing young children along reinforces this message: we intend to remain non-violent, however much you provoke us. I think that the video of a children’s "mini-protest’ posted on The Lede supports this (13). The marching men who pass by may be their fathers and older brothers. In the background you can hear the ululations of women, who are probably their off-camera mothers and older sisters.

While many Syrians are fearful and apprehensive, to the point of seeking refuge in Syria and Lebanon or with relatives in parts of the country less affected by the upheaval, for others the protest experience has been galvanizing and transformative. For those who have lost their old fear of the government–fear that had inhibited and imprisoned them–there may be a new awareness of the dangers of the moment and what may be their fate if the regime survives. They know what happened in Hama in 1982 (where 10,000 is the low estimate of those massacred). In the present historical context, in a cultural setting where one’s destiny is in God’s hands and martyrs are revered for their sacrifice on behalf of the community.

In other words, what I’m suggesting is that activists and those who have taken to the streets do not want their children to grow up so afraid that they end up in another prison-house–one partly constructed out of their own fear of what might happen if they express dissent or engage in any form of rebellion. So perhaps parents have brought children to protests as a way to innoculate them against this kind of debilitating fearfulness.  Read about the Syrian mother of a four-year old, who certainly wanted to protect her daughter.  She articulates this desire for freedom very emphatically: "I don't want my girl to grow up to be like me--afraid! I now want to overthrow the regime" (14).

As the government crackdown has intensified, it seems that there have been fewer young children tagging alongside their parents. At the same time it have become more difficult for parents to keep older children and teenagers at home. Not too surprising, as teenagers are impulsive, prone to risk-taking. In Syria (as in Tunisia, Egypt, and in now in Libya), young people will be drawn into the historical moment by an ever-mounting sense of a great upheaval that they want to be a part of. Young people want to be "where it’s happening, dude." As older teens join young adults on the streets, younger teens will try to emulate them (15). In other words, parents may find it impossible to prevent teenagers from protesting. The fate of Hamza and other young victims of the Assad regime only serve to intensify the emotions of other young people.

Teaching About Human Rights Abuses
American children are exposed to so much gratuitous violence, so many fake depictions of mutilated bodies, that a dose of reality may serve as an antidote to the complacency that such exposure engenders (Bang! Bang! It’s just a video game!). But let me qualify this statement. In parts of the US, especially in the poor quarters of larger cities, American children see too much violence that is only too real and that, with the onset of summer, will occur with even greater frequency. These kids deal with meaningless violence (of some sort or other, not always lethal) nearly everyday. I’d say that they also need to know that kids in other places face violence, too–and that adults and young people have been working for peaceful change in some of those places.

So human rights and pain inflicted on those whose rights are abused are legitimate topics for discussion in American schools, school-age summer programs, and youth camps. What matters is the age of the students and their prior exposure to, or experiences with, actual violence. This means that teachers will approach the topic very differently and tailor their treatment to the social context of their students’ lives. In many instances this might mean doing more with words and less with images. Getting students to articulate their own experiences and make connections is important–but go easy, don’t throw out more than they can handle. (You also have to prepare yourself for those students who might laugh and tell you that torture is "cool.")

Next fall, when school opens, regardless of the outcome, the Arab Spring and events in Syria will still be in the news. I think that American children should not be shielded too much from what their peers are experiencing in conflict zones around the world. Hamza’s story will evoke empathy and greater understanding of events in Syria and why the Syrian protesters wanted so much to reform, then overthrow the government. This can be done without focusing too much on the details of how Hamza was tortured and mutilated.

Begin with the iconic photo of Hamza, whose round face and hint of a smile could be those of an American boy (he reminds me of other middle school boys on the cusp of puberty). Explain that Hamza was detained, mistreated, and died while in government custody. Explain that the Assad government has arrested and mistreated lots of people who didn’t like the way it was "doing business." Tell students about the Facebook page dedicated to Hamza’s memory. Show photos of the June 3rd "Children of Freedom" protests in which Hamza’s photo appears on protest banners and placards. ASK, why did people make these banners? What effect did they have? Then shift the focus to "What kind of boy was Hamza?" Share the story of how Hamza begged his parents for money to give to a poor family. Mention that, like many boys in this region, he kept pet pigeons and must have been fond of them (16). Ask, "How do you think Hamza would like his family and friends to remember him?" Move on to how we can work to protect the rights of children in our country and around the world.

ACTIVITIES

WATCH/READ: To introduce Hamza’s story watch the Channel 4 News video. Follow-up with the Atlantic Wire article or another short news item (preview to assess whether the information is appropriate given the age of your students).

BALLOON RELEASE: Honor Hamza and other children who have died or have been injured by releasing balloons with messages about peace and compassion. See the video of balloon release video posted on "We Are All Hamza Alkhateeb" on June 4th.

Remember Hamza’s generosity by DONATING to UNICEF or a reputable international children’s aid organization. Raising donation money could be a service learning project for a Girl Scout or Boy Scout troop or summer camp. Plan now to incorporate such a project into next year’s service program at your school or church.

READ/DISCUSS: After reading "Syria: Fear and Defiance in Homs" discuss the experience of the mother and young daughter. ASK: What would you do if you were faced with the same/similar set of circumstances? (This would be a good discussion to have in any parenting group that you might belong to.)

RESEARCH: Find out more about pigeon-keeping as a hobby in the Middle East. WATCH the video about Baghdad ... ASK: How did the pigeon hobbyist feel about his pigeons? Why did he find comfort in them during dark days in Baghdad? In WORLD HISTORY read the Aramco article and explore its many historical references (a great project for a student who fancies pigeons or has a cultural connection to this hobby).

READ about the Convention on the Rights of the Child or explore the document itself. FIND OUT why the United States has not ratified this document. ASK students to write persuasive essays about children’s rights or arguing the pros/cons of US ratification of the Convention. Suggest that cases like Hamza’s provide highly emotive supporting evidence. Encourage students to find more information and examples at the UNICEF and Human Rights Watch web sites. Point to the article about Jonathan Carey as another powerful example to use in their essays.

COMPARE/WRITE: After reading about Hamza and Jonathan, ask students to compare their lives and what happened to them while in the custody of "authorities."  This brainstorming discussion could provide material for essays about the similarities and differences--as well as the issues raised--by these disturbing cases of abuse.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS: The Convention on the Rights of the Child is available online in Englihs, French, Spanish, and Arabic. Select text from this document for a translation exercise, followed by discussion (try using the language you are teaching, at least at the beginning of the conversation). Collaborate with a global studies teacher who might want to incorporate "children in conflict zones" or "children’s rights" as a topic of high interest to students.

RESEARCH: Search online for current and archived news about investigative reporting on conditions at facilities for developmentally-disabled, behaviorally-impaired children or those detained in the juvenile justice system. (Within the last couple of years I’ve read about abuses in a number of states, including state-run and private facilities.). Report back to your class or organization and discuss action, such as letter-writing to newspapers, state officials and legislators, petition campaigns.

RESOURCES

BREAKING NEWS: Al Jazeera English: Live Blog Syria: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria

"Syrian Army Starts Crackdown in Northern Town." Al Jazeera English (June 10, 2011): http://english.aljazera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201161064328691559.html

Arsu, Sebnem and Liam Stack. "Fearful of a Government Assault, More Syrians Flee into Turkey." New York Times (June 9, 2011):

Arsu, Sebnem and Liam Stack. "Syrian Forces Advance on Restive Town Near Turkey." New York Times (June 10, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/world/middleeast/11syria.html?_r=1&hp

• Check online for possible update of this story
• See photo of woman carrying mattress on head, with young boy beside her (snag for use in class, e.g. PowerPoint slide to elicit discussion).

　

Facebook: Local Coordinating Committees of Syria:http://www.facebook.com/LCCSy

• Posts in both Arabic and English; some include video of recent protests (go back to June 3 for "Children of Freedom Friday" protest footage)

Shaam News Network: http://shaam.org/


Hamza al-Khateeb and Child Victims in Syria

VIDEO: Channel 4 News (June , 2011; 2:55): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK9JznvZTbQ&feature=player_embedded

"Syrian Protesters Galvanized by Gruesome Video of Child’s Corpse." The Atlantic Wire (May 31, 2011): http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/05/syrian-protesters-galvanized-video-childs-corpse/38284/

• Overview recommended as suitable for the classroom
• Includes enlarged photo of Hamza from Facebook page (snag for PowerPoint)

　 Macleod, Hugh and Annasofie Flamand. "Tortured and Killed: Hamza al-Khateeb, Age 13." Al Jazeera English (May 31, 2011): http://enlgihs.aljazera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/201153185927813389.html

• Detailed account of Hamza’s family, his life as a boy in his home village, his pigeons and other interests, his generosity
• Accounts of what happened in the vicinity of Dara’a on April 29th, based on sources from the region
• How the government tried to refute the evidence indicating that Hamza had been tortured; the brief detention of his father

"Outrage in Syria Over Killing of Teenage Boy." Al Jazeera English (May 28, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/05/2011528194514327168.html

Stack, Liam. "Video of Torture Boy’s Corpse Deepens Anger in Syria." New York Times (May 30, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/world/middleeast/31syria.html?scp=1&sq=liam%20stack%20video%20tortured%20boy&st=cse

Stack, Liam. "Children Are Among Casualties of Syrian Military Raids After Demonstrations." New York Times (June 1, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/world/middleeast/02syria.html?scp=3&sq=liam%20stack%20video%20tortured%20boy&st=cse


Facebook: We Are All Hamza Alkhateeb: http://www.facebook.com/hamza.alshaheeed

• Read the brief (not graphic) information about Hamza by clicking on "About"
• If you like , send an e-mail message: hamza.alshaheed@gmail.com

　 "UNICEF Calls on Syria to Investigate Reported Killings of Children." UN News Centre (May 31, 2011): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38553&Cr=syria&Cr1

"Statement: UNICEF Alarmed about Report of Extreme Violence Against Children in Syria." UNICEF (May 31, 2011): http://www.unicef.org/media/media_58707.html
　

"Syria: Fear and Defiance in Homs." the New Yorker (June 1, 2011): http://www.newyorker/com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/06/syria-fear-and-defiance-in-homs

• Anonymous blogger’s account of a mother’s tale of the danger posed by to her four-year’s chanting of anti-Assad slogans at kindergarten

Protests on Children’s Freedom Friday

Mackey, Robert. "Syrians to March for Young Martyrs." The Lede: New York Times (June 2, 2011): http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/syrians-to-march-for-young-martyrs/?ref=middleeast

"Syrian Froces Kill at Least 34 Protesters at Anti-Government Protest." The Guardian (June 3, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/03/syrian-forces-kill-34-protesters

• Article about protests in Hama on June 3–with useful background information about the Hama Massacre in 1982.

Mackey, Robert. "Despite Restrictions, Syrians Record New Protests." The Lede: New York Times (June 3, 2011): http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/despite-restrictions-syrians-record-new-protests-and-clashes/?ref=middleeast

Stack, Liam and Katherine Zoepf. "Mourning a Boy, Crowds in Syria Defy Crackdown." New York Times (June 4, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/04/world/middleeast/04syria.html?scp=2&sq=liam%20stack%20video%20tortured%20boy&st=cse

Harris, Elizabeth A. "As Web Returns, Syrians Post More Video of Friday’s Protests and Clashes." The Lede: New York Times (June 4, 2011):

• See especial the last embedded video, which shows a group of young children demonstrating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9orfJrzcU94&feature=player_embedded
• Earlier one shows men marching, with a few children (show part and ask viewers to look for the children and estimate their ages)

　 "Syrians Decry ‘Torture’ of Teenage Protester." Al Jazeera English (June 9, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011696563111657.html

IMAGE: Children in Beirut Holding Vigil: http://www.facebook.com/hamza.alshaheeed#!/photo.php?fbid=205405062838067&set=pu.202038843174689&type=1&theater

Children’s Rights

UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org

"Convention on the Rights of the Child." UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/crc/

• Briefly explains the purpose and contents of the convention, including the legal obligations of signatory nations
• Links to text of the convention in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic

See also UNICEF resources in section above (Hamza and Child Victims in Syria).

　

Human Rights Abuses in Syria
Human Rights Watch: Syria: http://www.hrw.org/middle-eastn-africa/syria

• Scroll down to CNN video of HRW researcher Nadim Houry talking about the 57-page report "We’ve Never Seen Such Horror": Crimes Against Humanity in Daraa (released on June 1)
• Link to article summarizing the report (with a link to the document): "Syria Crimes Against Humanity in Daraa" (http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/06/01/syria-crimes-against-humanity-daraa)

Black, Ian and Nidaa hassan. "Syrian Security Forces Accused of Crimes Against Humanity." The Guardian (June 1, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/01/syria-security-forces-crimes-humanity

• An overview of the HRW report with comments by other activists
• Mentions the shooting of an 11-year old girl at Hirak (near Dara’a) on May 31st

Pigeons and Middle Eastern History

VIDEO: "The Pigeon Fanciers of Baghdad." BBC News (2:20): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7954499.stm

"The Pigeons of Anjar." Saudi Aramco World (November/December 1970): http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197006/the.pigeons.of.anjar.htm

"Damascene Pigeons." URL: ttp://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Pigeons/Damascene/BRKDamas.html

• Pictures of beautiful pigeons, a special breed named after a very ancient and special city in Syria.

　
　 The Sad Case of Jonathan Carey
"A Disabled Boy’s Death, and a System in Disarray." New York Times (June 5, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/nyregion/boys-death-highlights-crisis-in-homes-for-disabled.html?ref=todayspaper

NOTES

1) See, for example, Outrage in Syria Over Killing of Teenage Boy." Al Jazeera English (May 28, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/05/2011528194514327168.html. 
The "Children of Freedom Friday" was publicized on Facebook’s "We Are All Hamza" page (an allusion to the "We Are All Khaled Said" page of Egyptian democracy activists); for the Egyptian uprising and social media see earlier posts: The Social Media ‘Hook’ (February 4, 2011); Egypt: Resource Round-Up (February 9, 2011).

2) This appeared on June 4, 2011 (17 minutes ago, at 9:36 AM, Central Daylight Savings Time in US), as a post from Deir Ezzor. The children were Mohammad Saleh Alkattam (age 13) and Moaz Alrakad (age 16).

3) [to be added when I find the reference]

4) A family friend of the children involved said they were only 10 to 13 years old and imitating what they had seen on TV broadcasts of events in Tunisia and Egypt; see age Katherine Marshall, "Syria’s Silent Majority Will Determine Next Step as Protests Grow," The Guardian (April 15, 2011): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/15/syria-protests-silent-majority.

5) For excellent map and mid-May overview of the regime’s efforts to put down the revolt (with violence, arrests, detentions and torture), see Anthony Shadid, "Signs of Chaos in Syria’s Intense Crackdown," New York Times (May 12, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/middleeast/13syria.html?scp=1&sq=shadid%20syria's%20government%20spreads%20fear&st=cse. 
Also, Lix Sly, "At Least 32 Killed as Syrian Troops Open Fire," Washington Post (May 20, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/syrian-troops-fire-on-protesters-at-least-3-dead/2011/05/20/AF4hUj7G_story.html.

6) The siege of Dara’a began on April 25th when President Assad ordered tanks and snipers to the area and also cut off the towns electricity and telephone lines. For events in Dara’a see article summarizing the Human Rights Watch report (in Resources).

7) Hugh Macleod and Annasofie Flamand, "Tortured and Killed," Al Jazeera English (May 31, 2011): see Resources.

8) See "UNICEF Calls on Syria to Investigate Reported Killings of Children" and the text of the statement (both in Resources).

9) Note that the Syrian government has not allowed foreign journalists to travel in Syria–verification of news smuggled out, posted on external media sites difficult or impossible. Hamza’s friend: "Syrians Decry ‘Torture’ of Teenage Protester." Al Jazeera English (June 9, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011696563111657.html.

10) Benjamin Haarvey and Caroline Alexander, "Syrian Women, Chidlren Flee to Turksih Camps as Army Escalates Crackdown," Bloomberg (June 10, 2011): http://bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-06-10/syrian-women-children-flee-to-turkish-camps

11) Tensions increased in Idlib province, where Jisr al-Shugur is located, on June 4th; see Liam Stack,"Syrian Army Kills 38 in North, Reports Say," New York Times (June 5, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/world/middleeast/06syria.html?scp=1&sq=liam%20stack%20syrian%20army%20kills%2038&st=cse; and "Syrian Town Braces for Military Assault," Al Jazeera English (June 8, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201167202822354710.html.
For more recent events see articles in Breaking New section of Resources. The harshness of the response to protests in and around Jisr al-Shughur probably reflects its notoriety as a center of the Muslim Brotherhood, where seventy died in a government crackdown in 1980 (a prelude to the Hama Massacre of 1982).

12) Gregg Carlstrom, "Thousands Enter Turkey to Escape Syria Unrest," Al Jazeera English (June 9, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201169131651223112.html.  This article mention’s Turkey’s leverage but see also Nour Khaled in Ahram.

13) See Resources for the last video embedded in The Lede post by Elizabeth A. Harris (June 4, 2011).

14) In "Syria: Fear and Defiance in Homs" an anonymous but credible blogger tells the story of this four-year-old and her mother (in Resources).

15) It has been reported that Christian youths have joined Muslim peers on the streets of Qamshli in the northeast although their parents have stayed away from demonstrations.

16) Hugh Macleod and Annasofie Flamand, "Tortured and Killed," Al Jazeera English (May 31, 2011): see Resources.

17) For example, there is a YouTube video with a song about a bird that is very powerful because the bird’s imagined experience is so close to that of an imprisoned, suffering child–but the imagery of the video is drawn from the original documenting tape Hamza’s torture, making it too disturbing for most classroom settings.