Amid winds of change, India is Syria’s new hero

Chants of ‘Allah, Syria, Assad’ by enthusiastic crowds in Syria change to ‘Allah, Syria, Hind’ as soon as they realise that you are from India. India’s popularity in Syria is at its peak as the vote of abstention has been widely reported in the country as a vote in support.

At Homs, the trouble spot in Syria, enthusiastic young boys push ice creams and local chocolates into our hands. In the Damascus Souks, hard-bargaining shopkeepers give little gifts in support. In Aleppo, passersby stop us with a hug and a kiss saying, “you go around, see for yourselves and then project the right picture to the world. It is overwhelming, with thanks pouring out from the streets for the support as they shout in greeting, “Thank you India.” One gesture and India has become the new hero in Syria, with the word having spread like rapid fire through the country, into the remote streets of trouble torn Homs as well.

What is the real picture? For one, Syria is nowhere close to civil strife and the government, after the first flush of panic, has recovered to deal with the situation in some parts of the country with visible calm. The streets of Damascus and Aleppo, the two largest cities, are bustling in support of President Bashar al Assad. He is seen as the symbol of a sovereign Syria even by those who did not necessarily support him before the recent crisis.

Gaddafi’s fall and the continuing insurgency and violence in Iraq after the US invasion have made the Syrians virtually close ranks to isolate those who had gained some initial ground with their rebellion and demand for democracy through a regime change. In the Mediterranean resort of Latakia, shopkeepers and waiters pointed out that the Syrians would not ‘tolerate’ US interference. And that they would support Assad against the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar that are all clubbed under one ‘anti Syria’ banner.

The government narrative seems to be succeeding within Syria, even though the media has ensured that it does not cross the boundaries to influence the world in the same manner. But as several officials said the intention is first to get the people to understand and close ranks at this critical hour. The narrative centres around two basic issues close to the hearts of all Syrians, except the Islamists and extremists, namely sovereignty and secularism.

The first argument that has clearly struck home seeks to point out that while President Assad could relinquish power and the Baath party could give up its ‘leading’ role in the country, this could be determined only by the Syrian people and not outside powers. And two, secularism would continue to remain central to Syrian polity and the government will not allow any compromise on this. All senior leaders from the Grand Mufti to the foreign minister made it clear that religious parties like the Muslim Brotherhood have no place in the country that will not give up its secularism at any cost.

People are convinced that the grand international plan is to divide Syria and the Middle East into ethnic and religious states, with a woman stopping us in a picturesque street in Aleppo to point this out adding, “and it is for you India to help stop them.” The general impression, even inside Homs, is that the Islamist groups are being used to spread violence and they in turn are using the smugglers and criminals to incite violence. The argument being used by those who want to change the regime is that the Sunnis are in a majority (74%) and are being ruled by a minority (Alawites) who are less than 12% of the population. But there is a strong strain of secularism running through Syria that is coming in the way of those trying to radicalise the environment for the past seven months.

Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, a tall personality in every sense of the word, said in response to a question about the Muslim Brotherhood that he was not in favour of political alliances with religious parties. He said he told them, “be democratic brothers, put aside the word of Islam and dedicate that solely to your relationship with God, do not insert political ideology into the religious idea but they were not willing to listen.”

He said it was imperative for all to “get out of the religious circle into the national one” and keep religion out of politics to ensure a secular state where everyone had equal rights. His 20-year-old son was killed just recently by the Islamists as the Grand Mufti refused to concede the radicals demand to leave Syria. His face turning red as he tried to choke back the tears, he said that Syria would not surrender its sovereignty to Islamists and foreign powers regardless of the cost.