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.