Press Releases

Muslim students speak out against Syrian injustices

FOSIS, the national Muslim student body, voices support for a campaign calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Syrian regime in lieu of its violent crack-down on anti-government protests that began in March last year.

The protests are in line with the wider Arab reawakening in calling for justice and freedoms for the Syrian people opposed to a tyrannical regime that has held sway over its citizens with fear and force for over forty years. Historically, this has been with the tacit support of Western powers in preference to “stability within the region” – an Orwellian phrase now defunct as the people rise to reclaim their rights in the face of guns and tanks.

This is not without consequence; official estimates say that over 6000 Syrians have been killed by “security forces” – surely a contradiction in terms given the numbers killed and reporting of flagrant abuses of human rights in the shape of systematic torture, rape, kidnapping and incarceration by government forces.

Whilst diplomacy has been met with the sweet words of democracy, reform, pluralistic politics and a new constitution, government forces continue to swat down any demonstrations defying the rule of President Assad. The epicentre of these mass rallies is the historical city of Homs, now in the throes of a vicious government crackdown. Indeed, since Arab League observers have entered the fray, over 300 more Syrians have paid the ultimate price for standing up to despotic rule.

Nabil Ahmed, President of FOSIS said today “The Syrian ambassador and diplomats represent a brutal, murderous and dictatorial regime responsible for the killing of over 6000 protestors since the start of the Syrian uprising in March 2011. Such representation is not welcome on British soil, supposedly a bastion for freedom, liberty, and justice.

“The federation welcomes the efforts of British students in raising awareness of this issue on campuses across the country. It is time for the British Government to take a lead from its students and stop pandering to empty rhetoric in favour of making a stand for justice by putting concerted pressure on the Syrian regime to scale back its carnage and ease a transition to a new popular government.”

[ENDS]

1. FOSIS (est. 1963) is the umbrella organisation of student groups in colleges and universities throughout the UK and Ireland, representing the interests of over 100,000 Muslim students.

2. For more information please contact Amandla Thomas-Johnson on 07984296626, email head.media@fosis.org.uk or alternatively visit our website www.fosis.org.uk