Pro-Assad And/Or Anti-War Demonstrations?
A pro-Assad protest in Washington DC. In addition to waving the Syrian flag, an Israeli flag is seen among the crowd. Photograph shared by Eiad Charbaji on his public Facebook page
Anti-war protests have been staged against US efforts to strike Syria. Netizens chart some of the protests, where pro-Syrian president Bashar Al Assad crowds were present. The question they ask is whether pro-Assad protesters can be anti-war, given the war Assad has been waging against Syrians since anti-regime protests started in the country in March 2011.
M. Scott Mahaskey shares a photograph of anti-war – and pro-Assad – protesters wearing Bashar Al Assad T-shirts outside the White House:
Syrian American Forum outside White House protesting possible US strike against #Syria. pic.twitter.com/s6DvZzY7s9
— M. Scott Mahaskey (@smahaskey) September 9, 2013
Syrian Nader shares another photograph, from a pro-Assad protest, also in Washington DC:
Picture from Washington DC. No comment. pic.twitter.com/8UWnDyGA23
— Nader (@DarthNader) September 10, 2013
In addition to Syrian flags, one protester is seen waving an Israeli flag in this photograph.
Closer home, a pro-Assad demonstration was staged in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, the epi-centre of the Egyptian revolution.
Tom Dale comments:
An admittedly small but nonetheless depressing demonstration in #Tahrir Chanting for "God, Bashar, Sisi, and Syria" http://t.co/V1uWGZumJv
— Tom Dale (@tom_d_) September 10, 2013
Ahmed Aggour shares the link to the same video above and comments:
Just like I said, it was only a matter of time before pro-Assad chants find their way to #Tahrir http://t.co/ryKq7MUanU #Egypt
— Aحmad H. عggour (@Psypherize) September 10, 2013
Syrian activist Yasmine Jandali argues that the pro-Assad crowd, cannot be anti-war too – as Assad is waging a war against his own people. She tweets:
Anti-war ppl, if you see a pic of this guy @ ur event,realize they are pro-assad,pro-CW,anti-freedom grp #FreeSyria pic.twitter.com/730gbG5izu
— Yasmine – ياسمين (@yasminejandali) September 9, 2013
Syrian Farah, who lives in the UAE, states the notion more bluntly:
Pro Assad and Anti-war are two things that don't mix together
— Farah (@FeFu_x) September 7, 2013
And Shiyam Galyon draws a shocking comparison:
Seeing leftists/antiwar/peace activists with Pro-Assad ppl is like seeing feminists and rapists on the same side of a women's issue. #Syria
— Shiyam Galyon (@ShiyamNotes) September 5, 2013
3 comments
Mixing the two seriously weakens the anti-war movement. Assad is a monster and we should not kid ourselves about that fact when we oppose US intervention, which we should.