Syria: Youth Rally in Support of Syrian Air · Global Voices
Anas Qtiesh

Syrian Air – Photo courtesy of Fadi Halisso
Starting with the Syria Accountability Act (SAA) of 2004, the U.S. has implemented a series of trade and financial sanctions on Syria. The sanctions are affecting the daily lives of Syrian citizens in several areas including: travel restrictions and a ban on software and IT export, as well as business limitations.
Also, the sanctions have hit hard the national carrier, Syrian Air. With a ban on buying new commercial jets or even spare parts for the existing fleet, the number of operational planes shrunk to three airplanes only.
Realizing the paralyzing blow to the Syrian air travel industry,  a group of Syrian youth started a campaign in support of Syrian Air. They have launched a website and a Facebook group, and have gathered over a thousand supporters in less than a month. The campaign's website states:
We are calling all who are in charge to release the sanctions on  Syrian Air, Syrian Air have the right to buy spare parts and aircrafts..
And the campaigners point out that the sanctions endanger civilian passengers on board those planes:
Syrian Air transport civilian from different nationalities.. safety is  number one in air transportation… Stop the Sanctions NOW!
Syrian blogger Fadi Halisso writes [ar] about the campaign on his blog خربشات (Kharbashat: scribbles):