Genocide In Syria

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In early 2011 in Syria, peaceful, pro-democracy protests arose, which quickly disintegrated into “[t]he worst humanitarian disaster since the 1994 Rwandan genocide” (“Endless War, Endless Suffering”). The Syrian government, led by Bashar al-Assad, staunchly denies any allegations of genocide in the country; however, disturbing reports from Syrian citizens and journalists in the area paint a different picture. Even neighboring countries, such as Saudi Arabia, recognize the events in Syria as genocide (“Saudi Arabia: Syrian war on rebels is genocide”). The events in Syria have all the earmarks of genocide: general instability in the country and surrounding region, a clear intent by the government to rid themselves of a minority, and a massive death toll and refugee rate. The crimes against the Syrian people are clearly genocide, so why hasn’t it been recognized as such? …show more content…
The protestors formed the Free Syrian Army, and were quickly given the moniker “rebels” (Lanewala). By 2012, the country had deteriorated into all-out civil war, pitting the al-Assad regime, which mostly consists of Shi’ite Muslims and Alawites, against the Syrian rebels, who tend to be Sunni Muslims (Adams). The surrounding area has also been thrown into turmoil by the civil war. Iran and Russia have been supplying weaponry to the al-Assad regime. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, along with other Sunni states, has been giving weapons to the rebels (“Saudi Arabia: Syrian war on rebels in genocide”). The instability in Syria and in the regions surrounding Syria is further proof of the genocide in